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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Contraception after birth - is the Persona rubbish?

16 replies

LadyThompson · 05/01/2009 23:16

Had my DD six weeks ago, and now have to think about contraception (aside from the extra three stones I am now carrying). Consultant has advised against the Pill, because I am 36 and want another child, and she thinks it would mess around with my ovulation patterns too much; DP doesn't like condoms, and I don't fancy the coil. This leaves, I think the Cap (apparently the bloke can feel it, which doesn't sound good) and the Diaphragm, of which I know nothing. How reliable is Persona? It sounds like it might suit me but I really don't want to get pregnant again immediately - I had a cs and need to heal (as well as enjoy this baby!)

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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christmasiana · 05/01/2009 23:18

my cousin and two of my SILs got pregnant with persona, so didn't really work for them!

Original poster

LadyThompson · 05/01/2009 23:29

Oh yikes, Christmasiana. Here was me thinking it was the answer to my prayers

OP posts:

christmasiana · 05/01/2009 23:30

well, they are really really fertile though (have 11 children between them)... i don't know...

i thought everyone just did withdrawal method? (we're AWFULLY lazy round here)

MinkyBorage · 05/01/2009 23:31

There is NO WAY on this earth I would use the persona as a method of contraception if I really seriously did not want to get pregnant, but am watching this thread with interest to see if I'm wrong. I'm in a similar situation, and definitely do not want a coil, although I am due to give birth to dc3 in March, and am (nearly) certain that I don't want any more after this.

Original poster

LadyThompson · 05/01/2009 23:38

Apologies for dodgy punctuation in original post. I'm tired, I've got a new baby...I heard that using the Persona was only as risky as the Diaphragm (they seem rather old fashioned). I also heard that combining Persona with taking your temperature is quite effective. But I know naaathing.

OP posts:

singsong · 06/01/2009 00:04

Persona info says not suitable if breast feeding/have recently been breast feeding/have recently been pregnant here

iwantitnow · 06/01/2009 06:24

Persona works for me but I have very regular periods, they need to be regular to work. You cannot use it if you are breastfeeding though. I did find having a small baby a natural contraception.

pipsy76 · 06/01/2009 06:56

Without persona I wouldn't be a mum, however I was using it for contraception and not TTC!Best accident of my life but definitely would not recommend this as contraception.

Original poster

LadyThompson · 06/01/2009 10:11

Thanks everyone. Hmmm, back to the drawing board then!

OP posts:

happy2bme · 06/01/2009 10:51

ds1 is now 6 months and was concieved while
using persona!!! (it only took 3 months for it to fail!!!)

Pollyanna · 06/01/2009 11:49

ds2 is 8 months. conceived on a very "red" day on persona.

vbacqueen1 · 06/01/2009 14:11

Persona works really well if you're regular but it takes a few months for it to build up a proper "profile" of your hormones - I think most women who get pregnant with it do so during the first few months.

It's definitely best used in conjunction with checking cervical mucous (uck) and temperature too.

TBH I used it mostly for TTC rather than the other way round, and I wouldn't recommend it if you definitely don't want any more children. There's only one surefire way of never getting pregnant and that's abstinence (something of which I'm all too bloody familiar with atm! )

NellyTheElephant · 06/01/2009 16:29

I used persona very successfully between DD2 and this pregnancy, although I backed it up with temp taking as I have always got pg VERY easily (both when wanted and not). I used it for a year and then got pg the very month I wanted to (helped by persona telling me I was ovulating no doubt). I think it's great and will definitely go back to it after this baby. The down side is that you can't start it immediately after birth, and also it can take a while to work out your cycles (e.g. I tend to ovulate around day 19 / 20 and as it is looking for ovulation around day 14 for the first few months it kept asking me to test when I knew it was too early and it wasn't until the third month that it started asking me to test later and therefore picked up ovulation) During those early months you get 'red' days all the time which is a bit boring. As someone else said you can't use when bf and also you need to wait for a couple of regular cycles before you start. That means for me I generally can't use it safely until about a year after birth.

tittybangbang · 06/01/2009 20:36

I conceived accidentally with Persona. The midwife who did my booking visit said she saw loads of women who'd conceived by accident while using it for contraceptive purposes.

I did cheat though as I was getting constant red days. Might have had something to do with the fact I have polycystic ovaries, so perhaps my hormones were too messed up for it to work properly. That said, my cycles were like clockwork.

Loopymumsy · 06/01/2009 20:39

This reply has been deleted

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Smilewearingthin · 07/01/2009 20:00

I used Persona and conceived after 12 or so months of use. Considering the [in]frequency with which I had sex during this period (my boyfriend was often in the States) this was a remarkable 'hit' rate. I think it is completely hopeless unless you are very, very regular. I actually think it should be taken off the market.

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