Persona Fertilty Monitor as a TTC aid

[GiraffeAHolic]

Has anyone successfully used the Persona monitor to concieve?

Back story: We have a beautiful 18 month old dd, took over 2 years to concieve due to PCOS, been TTC #2 for 6 months with no success BUT thanks to Agnus Castus and dieting my cycles have become regular.

I've bought a Persona monitor from EBay to start this month, obviously it's going to take some time to see if it's going to help.

I'm aware that it's not always useful for PCOS sufferers but I've been doing ovulation sticks and getting positive results at the right time according to Fertility Friend, with no multiple surges etc.

So had anyone used this and managed to concieve?

Yep, used it successfully for second child.

Unfortunately the gadget broke in transit on the way to another mumsnetter so it was an expensive one-off gadget but it was very useful.

Yes - used it for No 1.

I'd been expecting to get pregnant straight away once we decided to go for it Yes, I now know....

Anyway, as DH is away a lot, we kept missing the limited window of opportunity. A friend lent me her Persona, and we soon realised that we weren't having sex at the right time. I think it was the 4th cycle and the first time we'd done the deed on the red day.

Good luck

Giraffe,

I would also be looking into having blood tests done to see if ovulation is actually happening. Your periods have become regular which is good but this does not necessarily mean that ovulation is automatically happening as a result (it is quite possible to have periods without ovulating). Your LH and FSH levels need to be compared against each other; this is usually out of balance where PCOS is concerned. There's usually too much LH to that of FSH; these kits read the excess of LH more often than not.

If you do have tests done I would have a day 2 and a day 21 test. The day 2 would be to compare the LH/FSH and the day 21 to check your progesterone level.

If you do have the blood tests done as well you should mention taking the Agnus Castus previously and the dosage taken.

Given your gynae history and a previous PCOS dx I would be now looking into getting a referral to a gynae at a subfertility unit.

Not suggesting that do not use the monitor but would use this with a degree of caution and for a set length of time only (e.g three months and no longer). They are not always right at all and can mislead.

Thanks for the success stories

Attila - thank you for your reply, yes it was those blood tests that confirmed the PCOS last time (plus an internal scan).

I didn't have periods at all whilst TTC last time (TBH I still don't know how it happened unless I randomly ovulated once and got incredibly lucky) so having regualr cycles is a positive point this time, even if they're anovulatory at least they're regularly crap!

My main reason for not taking a medical route straightaway is mostly down to the experiences last time. Repeatedly postponed appointments, unhelpful specialists etc.

Also the fact that I actually fell pregnant naturally last time, all be it after 2 years, will probably mean that they are less inclined to help.

No, you're right the monitor won't help if I I'm still destined to struggle to concieve but at least I won't spend all month considerable time squinting at ovulation sticks and I feel like I'm doing something proactive.