These beads are a wonderful, easy, hormone free option for birth control. No more side-effects like acne, unnatural weight gain and irritability. And you don't have to remember to take a pill every day at the same time! This is also a great addition (or replacement) to charting and/or monitoring your cervical mucous. Finally, an effective, natural birth control (or birth planning) method! CycleBeads were developed and tested by the Institute for Reproductive Health at Georgetown University, which focuses on the development and testing of natural family planning methods. CycleBeads are based on the Standard Days Method, a natural family planning method, which was proven to be more than 95% effective* in preventing unplanned pregnancies. This means that if 100 women use Cycle Beads correctly over the course of a year to prevent pregnancy, less than 5 of them will become pregnant during that time. This is similar or better in terms of effectiveness to many other commonly used birth control options.
CycleBeads can be used for family planning both as birth control or to plan a pregnancy. To avoid pregnancy, a woman and her partner can choose to either use another method or not have sex on fertile days. To achieve pregnancy, a woman and her partner can easily determine which days she's most likely to get pregnant.
Here is how they work:
The day a woman starts her period she puts the little black rubber ring on the red bead. Each day she moves the ring one bead, always following in the direction of the arrow. (It has been recommended to leave it near the bed, or at least in the same place all the time.) When the ring is on the red bead or a dark bead, there is very low likelihood of pregnancy, so she can have intercourse on these days without getting pregnant. When the ring is on a white (glow-in-the-dark) bead - Days 8 through 19 - there is a high likelihood of getting pregnant if a woman has unprotected intercourse. This is based on the Standard Days Method of fertility, and the fertile window. This "fertile window" takes into account the days around ovulation as well as the fact that ovulation may occur on different days from one cycle to the next.
Please note that this method of birth control works the best if your menstrual cycles are between 26 and 32 days long.
CycleBeads are not for everyone. There are several questions you need to ask yourself to see if this method of birth control is right for you.
-Are my menstrual cycles between 26 and 32 days long?
If yes, then this may be the right product for you.
If yes, then this may be the right product for you.
If yes then this may NOT be the right product for you, as it does not offer any protection against STD's.
-Have I recently used a 3 month injectable contraceptive?
If yes, you can use CycleBeads only if your cycles were between 26 and 32 days long BEFORE you started using the three-month injectable. If they were between 26 and 32 days long before you started, wait until 3 full months have passed since your last shot. Also, wait until you have a cycle between 26 and 32 days long. Then you can start using CycleBeads as soon as your next period starts.
-Have I used a 1 month injectable, the pill or an implant during my current menstrual cycle?
If yes, you can use CycleBeads if your cycles were between 26 and 32 days long BEFORE you started using any of these methods. If so, you can start using them on the first day of your next period.
-Am I currently breastfeeding?
If yes, wait until you have had 4 menstrual periods since your baby was born. After you have had 4 periods, if your last cycle was between 26 and 32 days long, you can start using CycleBeads on the first day of your next period.
Each CycleBeads comes complete with detailed user instructions.
*Arevalo M. et al., Contraception, 2002; 65; 333-338.
