Persona

• hand-held computerised system (launched in 1996)
  
  
• identifies fertile phase of a woman's menstrual cycle - by matching menstrual cycle to urinary oestrone 3-glucouronide and LH; couples should be advised to restrict unprotected sexual intercourse to the postovulatory phase of the menstrual cycle
  
  
• efficacy 94% - 6 pregnancies per 100 woman years of use (1,2)
  
  
• suitability
  • women using Persona must have regular menstrual cycles (23-35 days)
  • unsuitable if a woman is taking oral contraceptive pill, HRT, tetracyclines, ovulation-inducing drugs

Reference:

• 1) Prescriber (1999), 10 (16), 29-41.
• 2) Prescriber (2001), 12 (5), 83-95.