The practice nurse has recommended a diaphragm. Please tell me your experiences.

[peachygirl]

I went for a for a smear test today today and the nurse pretty much sneered about my natural famiy planning (persona machine temping and CM charting) she suggested a diaphragm.

We don't on the whole have lots of sex and this is why NFP is at the moment good for us
DH is quite keen as he belives the Persona is a hassle and I don't do it properly (cheek). I have been trained regularly read literature and am very strict and don't take any chances

But I would like to know what others have expperienced with them.

NFP combined with persona (and abstinence or condoms during fertile period) is more effective than a diaphragm.

You may have trouble finding somewhere to fit a diaphragm, unless you go to a FP clinic.

I fell pregnant using a diaphragm....

they are a nuisance. You have to decide whether or not you are going to have sex in advance. The spermicide smells funny and (IIRC) tastes vile...you have to leave them in afterwards, not always convenient...first one I had was badly fitted, wouldn't stay in (this was BC, and I suspect due to retroverted uterus but did anyone bother telling me, oh no)...
sorry.

I've done both and preferred my Persona. DH is away a lot so it was fairly easy to follow as we weren't exactly having a lot of spontaneous sex.

The diaphragm was ok but rather fiddly.

Blooy cheeky nurse though - if you're happy with your contraception what business is it of hers?

Oops meant bloody - DD2 has snapped my D key off..

First cap as a teenager and it was too big. When I had to go back to clinic with it in I nearly wet myself cos it was pressing on my bladder. Went on pill. few years later got out the little box and inside, a rim and fragments of decaying rubber
Had another years later and got along ok but an aphrodisiac it aint. As has been said you either have to have it in already or in case of spontaneous action break off and squat in the corner putting it in.

Thanks

I ashamed by my spelling.

I wouldn't recommend them, the spermicide gave me thrush, and I fell pregnant by accident because I didn't put it in one night. It does take away any element of being in the mood by the time you have got up and put it in. I miscarried the pregnancy at 7 weeks which I'm sure had nothing to do with the diaphragm, but it certainly gave me an aversion to it.

Bump for other opinions/ experiences

I used it successfully for years. No it's not an aphrodisiac, but no worse than condoms.

Once you get the hang of it, it's easy. An added bonus is that you can have sex during your period without getting blood everywhere.

I liked it, tbh, although I think it's probably not the contraceptive of choice if you definitely don't want a baby. Having said that, the only times I got pregnant was when the diaphragm was in the drawer at the crucial moment.

Doh.

Bit faffy- and I was alergic to almost all of the spermicides...also lethal to insert when drink has been taken.....

I used a diaphragm and it was fine. I didn't get on well with the spermicide though, it made me sore so swapped to another sort, but actually there's some literature that says they're just as effective without and that it strips the vaginal wall of something/changes the chemical balance up there so I would just use it without if I were you.

I was quite fond of mine...I miss it [sob]

NFP very good though and I used that most of the time, anyway - just used diaphragm at feritle times really.

feritle?

Stuff uneducated detractors.! Diaphragms hard to get hold of now as well..

My experience of using the diaphragm is 11 now and has just started High school.
Need to be disciplined enough to stop what you're doing and put it in - I'm not.

i meant to say, join the yahoo group if you're serious - very hardcore lot, they have recipes to knit your own spermicide etc, great fun...I was too silly for them and they didn't like me

diaphragms and caps it's called. I'd link but lost it years ago.

Ooh!

Looks like they are still about

Well, I liked the diaphragm. We used it at a time in our lives when we were very (ahem) active though, and so it was well worth the hassle of putting it in after dinner "just in case". So no running off and faffing around. We kept condoms handy too, just in case we couldn't resist and I'd forgotten. It just became part of my routine and was like cleaning my teeth. We were also at a stage where it wouldn't have been a disaster if I'd become pregnant (which I'm guessing you also are, if you're using NFP).

I'd second the opinion, that as long as you are aware of the benefits and risks of the method that you use, that it really is no-one else's business though (medical professional or no).

They're OK, but if you start having sex you have to stop to put it in OR you have to routinely put it in each night just in case and remember to remove it in the morning!

I found mine useful during periods as it meant you could have non-messy sex!!

They are very straightforward - you can whack it in before you go out for the night, and take it out the following morning. Sponteneity doesn't have to be an issue!

I quite liked mine for most of the time, but I had problems with cystitis.

Don't clean your teeth with the spermicidal cream - it'll make your mouth go numb

It's certainly worth a go. I have a coil these days, although I got pg with one recently

Just thought i'd bump this again as I am going to have a fitting next week.

I thought I might start a thread about what happened when I was there.

I did join the yahoo group which has lots of great info sheets.