A
female
age
36-40,
anonymous
writes:HiThis isnt a relationship question as such... more of a sex and practical question.I do not get on well with hormonal contraceptives. They do horrid things to me, and I stopped taking them. My boyfriend uses condoms, but it would be nice to try without them.Obviously, I dont want to get pregnant! We are not in the right place for children yet.Has anyone tried natural contraceptive methods? I found a contraception monitor called 'persona', which for me (being a bit of a geek) appeals due to its structured nature, of recording your cycle and when you ovulate etc, where you can work out when you are ovulating and when its safe to have unprotected sex.I would be interested to know if anyone has anyone ever used this type of thing and if they work, and any comments about them.Many thanks!
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female
reader, natasia +, writes (16 March 2012):
 The monitor is just a formalised, mechanical aid to self-monitoring, I think. So in fact, when you follow this cycle for month after month, you will notice the signs in your body even without needing the support/affirmation offered by the monitor.
So, natural self-monitoring, or using the monitor, feels similar (although I would recommend also learning what the signs are, so you can use that in conjunction with the monitor). And yes, you do feel a bit 'scared', if that's the right word - I suppose you realise that you are allowing Nature to operate naturally, but you are just trying to work with it and make sure you avoid the 'dangerous' times.
But the sensation of sex without any barrier, and the emotional connection, is quite out of this world, and quite different to any sex where invasive or barrier contraception is used.
So: I think you will feel a bit nervous, but you will also feel comforted and strengthened by the increased bond with your partner, and with your own body, as you learn to listen to it and really take charge and understand yourself.
A
reader, anonymous, writes (15 March 2012): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionFor the ladies who have used these monitors - how did it feel when you first started having sex without any other contraception?
Did you worry or panic about it?
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A
female
reader, natasia +, writes (15 March 2012):
Simplest thing is buy an ovulation test kit every month - about £20 - and it has 7 tests in it. Start testing from day 8 (day 1 is the day your period starts). Test for 7 days. You will most likely ovulate in this time. After a few months, you should get a clear idea of when you usually ovulate. Most women are absolutely day 12-14, but some have longer cycles (35 days instead of standard 28 - basically 5 weeks instead of 4 weeks), so ovulate later. It is ALWAYS exactly 14 days from when you ovulate to when you get your period - it's just the time between start of period and ovulation that is sometimes different.
When you see the LH surge on the ovulation test, that means you will ovulate in 24-48 hours. If you don't want to get pregnant, don't have sex from about 5 days before you ovulate to 4 days after you saw the LH surge. Because:
You can have sex before you ovulate, and then the sperm can live for up to 5 days inside you, and then also you might ovulate early if you have live sperm inside you, because your body 'knows' it wd be a good idea to ovulate quick ... (seriously, that has happened to me more than once - ovulated 5 days early once ... daughter now 3 yrs old and gorgeous ; )
Best plan:
You can have sex during your period.
You can for about 3 days after your period has finished.
Then monitor until you see LH surge.
Keep monitoring until you see the surge drop (about 2 days).
Wait another 2-3 days.
Then you usually have at least 10 days before yr period when you can have sex no problem.
The tricky thing is:
your body, and your boyfriend, will MOST want to have sex in the days when I have said above you shouldn't. Then after you have ovulated and egg not fertilised, you will feel much more like watching telly, eating choc and going to bed early without sex ...!
That's Mother Nature for you ; )
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A
female
reader, chigirl  +, writes (15 March 2012):
 I haven't tried one of them, but I would if I could afford it. They cost a lot of money, at least here in Norway. I know of the LadyComp or BabyComp. They function the same as you described, measure your temperature and calculate in your period.
For this to be save you'd need a steady period. And there will be many days where you are not safe or "uncertain" if you don't have a steady period. As well as needing to use condoms the days when you are not safe. I think it's only about a week or two where you are "safe", so if you want regularly sex you'd need to use condoms as well.
Like I said, I haven't used it, but I think it sounds safe to use. It's just that you need to be a woman who can follow routine, measure at the same times, and at the right time as well (in the morning before you get out of bed I think it was). If you are a precise woman who can do this every day without failure, then I think this could work well for you. If you are more whimsical, forget things easily etc, then this isn't for you.
And, as with all times you have sex, nothing is 100% safe other than NOT having sex.
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A
female
reader, So_Very_Confused  +, writes (15 March 2012):
 I used a combo of barrier method (diaphragm) and Natural Family Planning (taught by the catholic church)
it involves taking your temperature and checking your cervix and mucus every day and charting it but it worked great and I knew to the day when I got pregnant (we were trying to get pregnant at the time) which in the long run saved my baby from being delivered by C-section too early...
with charting you learn your body and when the temp goes up (it's like 1/10 of a degree difference) you are ovulating... so 3 days before day of and about 3 days after you have to use a barrier such as a condom or diaphragm but the rest of the time you can be pretty well assured of not getting pregnant.
I used this method for years (in conjunction with breast feeding babies) and NEVER had an unwanted (or unplanned) pregnancy
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A
male
reader, eek +, writes (15 March 2012):
 my ex used this method and we never had a problem.
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A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (15 March 2012): Yes, you do get heavier periods with the IUD, but it's not so much worse that it doesn't make it worth it. I have the Paragard copper IUD and I love it. Hormonal birth control didn't agree with me, either.
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A
reader, anonymous, writes (15 March 2012): This is verified as being by the original poster of the questionHoneypie, I did also consider that, but the Dr was pretty non-impressed as I have not yet had children. He seemed to think it 'wasnt the best option'....
I have also heard about heavier periods because of the IUD.....
If anyone has any experience with that, I would be interested to hear your stories!
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A
male
reader, Sageoldguy1465 +, writes (15 March 2012):
 MANY people have tried this method of contraception.
A LOT OF THEM are now known as "parents."
Good luck....
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A
female
reader, Honeypie + ♥, writes (15 March 2012):
 Have you thought about a non-hormonal IUD?
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A
female
reader, person12345 +, writes (15 March 2012):
 They seem to work very well, but they won't have the same effectiveness as a hormonal method. I would say you should only try it if you're comfortable getting an abortion if you do get pregnant or want a child. I am in the same situation as you, I have tried 6 different hormonal methods and all of them were awful. I've been looking at the computer things too, and the most popular one seems to be ladycomp (though it's VERY expensive). I have only seen one review of someone getting pregnant while using it correctly. It's probably best combined with all the family planning methods, like keeping track of cervical mucus (most women's discharge gets heavier and thicker 2-3 days in the middle of their cycle, indicating that they have ovulated). You should also make an appointment at a women's clinic to discuss how to best use this method.
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