PERSONA, a new method of contraception which was introduced yesterday in Ireland, was described as a major breakthrough by the professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Trinity College, Dublin, Prof John Bonnar.
Prof Bonnar, who was involved in the efficacy tests for the palm-sized computer that charts a woman's menstrual cycle, said he had not believed such a device could be developed so quickly.
The UK firm, Unipath, says Persona is contraception without contraceptives. It is free from side effects and gallows couples to have sex without using contraceptives on most days of the month.
The Catholic Press Office issued a statement yesterday welcoming the introduction of Persona. "Genuine advances that respect the biological laws inherent in the human person - which is at the core of Catholic understanding of responsible parenthood - are to be welcomed as an alternative to drugs and surgery," the statement said.
The Catholic Church has consistently encouraged medical science to come up with a sufficiently secure means of birth regulation based on the observance of the natural rhythms, it continued. "Catholics, and indeed, many not of our faith, will be encouraged that science is now developing non-intrusive and non-aggressive aids. This latest development will undoubtedly stimulate further advances in that direction."
It encouraged the wide availability of such aids to married couples through the health services.
The Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) said yesterday it welcomed the development of any new form of contraception. "Contraception is all about making choices and Persona offers another choice. It will be especially helpful to those wishing to practice natural family planning and to those women who wish to know more about their own fertility," said Dr Sheila Jones, IFPA medical director.
Prof Bonnar said Persona has undergone one of the largest-ever independent studies of a contraceptive method involving 1,200 women from Ireland, the UK and Germany. The studies proved Persona to be 94 per cent reliable.
"I have been involved in research of family planning methods for 30 years. I am pretty sceptical of most methods. But I am confident in saying that Persona is a major scientific breakthrough. It is a sophisticated mini-laboratory and data bank," said Prof Bonnar.
He said that using Persona, couples may have intercourse without using contraception for more than two-thirds of a woman's cycle. It can also be used for couples wishing to plan a baby and give a woman information on how her body works.