Natural Birth Control / Persona - Any advice?

Wilma33

Hi

I'm a long time user of MSE but I am using a new user ID as my colleagues know my normal one and I don't really want them to stumble upon this thread

I'm considering using natural birth control (in conjunction with condoms) and I could do with some advice from anyone who does this. As far as I can see there are two options:

1) I could buy a book and a thermometer! From googling, "Taking Charge of Your Fertility" by Toni Weschler seems highly recommended. I'm quite an organised person so don't have any issues with taking my temperature every morning, recording dates, etc.

2) I could buy something like Persona or Clearblue Fertility Monitor. This option seems quite expensive (this is where the MSE bit comes in!). I would cost about £80 initially then £10 a month from what I can work out :eek: Are there any MSE ways to get the pee sticks?

Does anyone know which option is more effective? Ultimately that's more important than the money side of things!

Any advice generally from anyone with any experience of either option would be great :T

Thanks in advance.

nadnad

goodness, i thought condoms would be good enough!

Wilma33

nadnad wrote: »

goodness, i thought condoms would be good enough!

I'm a worrier

fernliebee

I was wondering about this too. After I had my daughter (now 7 months) they give you the contraception talk and a leaflet. It listed all the different types of contraception and in there it said that my local family planning clinic run courses on how to track your fertility with a thermometer. You then just use condoms when you are fertile I'm presuming!

Don't know if a course is neccessary (is it really that complicated??) but I am interested in working out how it is done as it must be very MSE (when done right )

mumofthreemonkies83

Hi ladies

Have you been to the tcoyf site at all? They have a forum on there, just google OVUSOFT (forums) lots of ladies on there can offer advice and help
Also FERTILITY FRIEND is a free website to chart your cycles.

I can highly recommend the Taking charge book, very informative and interesting reading.
If you do research this method youll probably find that charting is more effective and worthwhile than the monitor although you could use both to cross check your fertile signs

Ive used this method for the past 3 years, to conceive and also to avoid :T
Its very simple once you have a grasp of what youre looking for, although its not for the squeemish:rotfl:

Also my one piece of advice would be that you have to be very strict with yourself and your o/h. Knowing when youre fertile is useless in avoiding if you choose to ignore the signs :rolleyes:

Id only use this method also if you and youre partner are aware of whens safe and when isnt, it certianly helps to have an understanding partner.

If you need futher info just holler although im sure youll find more than enough info on the two sites I mentioned

HTH
Emma xx

Marcheline

I know 2 of my family members have used natural birth control alone for over 25 years, for religious reasons. The fertility chart and thermometer method (when adhered to properly) works as well as artificial contraception: my relatives wanted 2 children and they only have 2 children. This method takes some self-control, but it works if you stick to it.

clairec79

I personally wouldn't bother with the persona. With cervical changes and temperature monitoring and regular charting you can predict yourself well. However it is a bit of a faff (but a LOT cheaper)

Tiggergirl

I have used the clearblue fertility monitor in combination with charting temps and cervical changes to conceive rather than to prevent.

A couple of the months, the monitor missed my ov, despite my other methods giving me obvious signs. It gives 3 levels of fertility - low, high and peak - if it never detects a peak it will tell you your fertility is high for days and days afterwards.

The other thing to think about is that temping will only tell you after you have ovulated, so is only suitable for prevention if you are fairly regular - i.e past charts should give an indication of future in that case.

If you are charting I can recommend the fertility friend website - as well as storing all your chart info it has online lessons on how to spot fertile signs etc.

KellyWelly

Tiggergirl wrote: »

The other thing to think about is that temping will only tell you after you have ovulated, so is only suitable for prevention if you are fairly regular - i.e past charts should give an indication of future in that case..

You wouldn't go by past charts as each cycle can vary. Charting takes into account more signs than temperature that indicate approaching ovulation (changes in cervical fluid, cervical position, cervical opening) that you monitor and begin then begin to abstain when the signs are right. After this you monitor the temperature and wait for the spike that indicates ovulation and wait 5 days for the egg to die before resuming sex.

Just going by the temperature won't work, you have to chart those other things as well.

RoseFairy

We use a combination of condoms during 'perfect' cycle of 28days, upto day 23. and thereafter the safe period time when you are unlikely to conceive.

the safe periods of days 6-10 and days 19-28 worked for us for 5 years and then dd1 unexpecetedly, worked again for 2 years and then dd2! Now just considering days 20+ as safe.

i don't think we can 'refrain' during days around ovulation times and so use protection.!

hth!

patchwork_cat

Are you planning on only using condoms on fertile days or all teh time and abstinence on fertile days?