Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How do CycleBeads work?
A. CycleBeads are a visual tool that help a woman with
regular cycles between 26 and 32 days long to keep track of the days of her
cycle and know when she is likely to get pregnant if she has unprotected intercourse. They are a string of 32 color-coded
beads, with each bead representing a day of a woman’s menstrual cycle. They
have a black rubber ring that the woman moves one bead each, day in the
direction of the arrow. When the woman starts her period, she puts the ring on
the first bead, which is red. She continues moving the ring one bead each day
of her cycle. When the ring is on a dark bead, she is on a day in her cycle
when she can have intercourse without getting pregnant. But when she in on a
day represented by the white beads, she may be fertile and could get pregnant
if she has unprotected intercourse.
Q. How effective are CycleBeads?
A. In studies
conducted by the Institute for Reproductive Health, the method on which
CycleBeads are based, The Standard Days Method, was found to be more than 95%
effective. That means that, out of 100 women using the method for 1 year, fewer
than 5 of them would get pregnant if they used the method correctly. However,
the study also found that women who do not keep careful track of their cycle
days or have unprotected intercourse on days 8 through 19 of their cycles are
much more likely to get pregnant. When women sometimes used the method correctly,
but sometimes had unprotected sex on days 8 through 19, 12 out of 100 got
pregnant during their first year of use.
Q. What is the Standard Days Method?
A. The Standard Days Method is a new, simple method of
family planning that was developed by the Institute for Reproductive Health at
Georgetown University. The Institute developed a computer model, based on data
from the World Health Organization, and determined that women who usually have
menstrual cycles between 26 and 32 days long are potentially fertile – or able
to get pregnant – on days 8 through 19 of their cycles. So the Standard Days
Method identifies a fixed set of days in each menstrual cycle as the days when
a woman can get pregnant if she has unprotected intercourse. If the woman
doesn’t want to get pregnant, she and her partner avoid unprotected intercourse
on days 8 through 19 of her cycle. The Institute has tested the Standard Days
Method in a clinical trial with about 500 women in 3 countries – Bolivia, Peru
and the Philippines. They found that women were able to use the method
correctly, and when they did use it correctly, it was more than 95% effective.
That is, out of 100 women using the method for 1 year, fewer than 5 would get
pregnant.
Q. How is this different from the rhythm method?
A. Actually, it’s very different. The rhythm method involves
having exact information about the last 6 menstrual cycles and every month
making complex calculations – adding and subtracting – to figure out which days
in the current cycle you’re likely to get pregnant. And the rhythm method has
never actually been tested in a well-designed efficacy study. The Standard Days
Method on which CycleBeads are based, is simple – it doesn’t involve any
calculations, and it is the same every cycle. It has also been tested in a
well-designed effectiveness trial, with excellent results.
Q. Can I use the Standard Days Method without using
CycleBeads?
A. Yes you can. CycleBeads have been found to be an
efficient, easy-to-use tool for helping women keep track of their cycles and
know which days are fertile and which are not. However, a woman could simply
keep track of her cycle on a calendar and count the days, starting with her
period so that she would know when she was in her fertile window – Days 8
through 19 of her cycle – and could get pregnant. She would also need to be
sure that her cycles were regularly between 26 and 32 days so that this fertile
window is accurate for her.
Q. Why do women choose to use CycleBeads?
A. The most common answer we hear is that women want to use
them because they are based on a method that is natural, effective, and has no
side effects. Many women want an easy to use family planning method that is
natural – that doesn’t involve hormones or surgical procedures. Some women are
concerned about side effects with other methods; others don’t want to do
anything that might impair their future ability to get pregnant. Some women
want to use it for religious reasons. And others want a method that helps them
involve their partners instead of one that is only the woman’s responsibility.
Q. Can I use
CycleBeads to help me get pregnant?
A. Yes you can. No research has been conducted to date to
see exactly how effective the Standard Days Method is in helping a couple who
wants to get pregnant, but because CycleBeads identify the fertile days, using
CycleBeads can be an important first step in trying to get pregnant. This is
because when they are using CycleBeads,
- a woman and her partner can see on which days she is
fertile, and they can have intercourse on those days; and
- keeping track of the number of days in her cycle gives a
woman information about her cycle that she can share with her doctor and thereby make
appropriate choices to help her conceive.
Of course, there are women who are not ovulating, or have
some other biological issue that makes it difficult for them to conceive. Or
the man may not be fertile. While CycleBeads will not directly help them to
conceive, it can be useful in helping them to at least establish the woman’s potentially
fertile days and her cycle lengths.
Q. If I'm only fertile for a few days of my cycle, why is
the "fertile window" 12 days long?
A. The research on which CycleBeads are based identifies the
fertile window – the time during which most women could get pregnant - as days
8 through 19 of the menstrual cycle. While it is true that a woman can get
pregnant during only a few days of her cycle, these days may not be at the same
time from one cycle to the next. The “fertile window” identified is 12 days long
because it takes into account both the days around ovulation and the possible
changes in the actual timing of ovulation from one cycle to the next.
Q. Will CycleBeads protect me from sexually transmitted
diseases (STDs)?
A. No. Like most other family planning methods except
condoms, the Standard Days Method on which CycleBeads are based does not protect people from
STDs. If you think you are at risk of an STD, you should consult your doctor
immediately to find out how you can protect yourself.
Q. Where can I get CycleBeads?
A. CycleBeads are available through a limited number of
providers and local retailers. You can also order them online from http://www.CycleBeads.com.
Who can use CycleBeads?
Q. Can anyone use CycleBeads?
A. No. The Standard Days Method, on which CycleBeads are
based, works very well for women who usually have menstrual cycles between 26
and 32 days long. Women who often have cycles shorter than 26 days or longer
than 32 days are not good candidates for this method. Also, women who would not
be able to avoid unprotected intercourse on the days they might get pregnant
are not likely to be successful using this method. So, like any method of
family planning, it isn’t for everyone.
Q. How can I find out if CycleBeads will work for me?
A. CycleBeads are an easy-to-use tool that can help many
women – whether they want to avoid pregnancy or to
get pregnant. But they are not for everyone. Please take the Cycle Bead Self- Screen to determine if
they could work for you.
Q. How can I determine if my cycle length is between 26
and 32 days?
A. A woman does not
need a record of her previous cycles, but we ask a woman to answer a few questions that
will help her or her provider to know whether or not she is in this range.
These questions
include:
- Do my periods
usually come about when I expect them?
- When did my last
period start?
- When do I think my
next period will start?
- How many days are
there between the day my last period started and the day I think my next
period will start?
If you can tell by answering these questions that your
cycles are likely to be between 26 and 32 days long, you can use CycleBeads. If
you are still not sure, it would be a good idea for you to use the CycleBeads
or a calendar for two or three cycles just to keep track of your cycle lengths.
But you should not rely on this as a way to prevent pregnancy until you are
sure your cycles are usually between 26 and 32 days long.
Q. How many women
have cycle lengths that are between 26 and 32 days long?
A. According to data from the World Health Organization,
about 80% of cycles are between 26 and 32 days long and most women have most of
their cycles within this range.
Q. Can I use CycleBeads if I just stopped taking the
pill?
A. Yes, if your cycles were 26-32 days long before you
started taking pills. If you are still taking pills and want to use CycleBeads,
you should finish taking the pills for this current cycle. Then, on the first
day of your next period, you can begin using the method. If you have already
stopped taking pills, you should wait until your next period starts before you
start using the method.
Q. Can I use CycleBeads if I just stopped taking an
injectable form of birth control?
A. It depends. First, you must have had regular cycles
between 26 and 32 days long before you started using the
injection. If you have taken a 1-month injectable recently and you had cycles
in this range before you started using the injectable, you can use CycleBeads
as soon as you have your next period. However, if you have taken a three-month
injectable, it may be a while before your cycles return to normal. You’ll need
to wait until three months have passed since you got your last injection and
then wait until you have a cycle that is between 26 and 32 days long.
Q. Can I use CycleBeads if I just stopped using an IUD?
A. Yes, as long as during the time you were using the IUD
your cycles were between 26 and 32 days long. Once the IUD is taken out, you
can start using CycleBeads on the first day of your next period.
Q. Can I use
CycleBeads if I am breastfeeding?
A. That depends. 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.
Q. Can I use CycleBeads if I am close to menopause?
A. Yes, as long as your cycles are between 26 and 32 days
long. However, as you approach menopause, your cycles may become irregular – either shorter
or longer. When this happens, CycleBeads will not
work for you.
Q. Can I use
CycleBeads if I have recently used emergency contraception?
A. Yes, you can use
CycleBeads if you have recently used emergency contraception and your cycles
are usually between 26 and 32 days long. However you should wait until you
start your next period before using CycleBeads.
Q. Why is it important that my partner is willing to use
CycleBeads and understands how they work?
A. First it’s important that both you and your partner agree
about whether or not you want a pregnancy. It is also critical that both of you understand
how CycleBeads work so that you can decide how to deal with the days when you
can potentially get pregnant. For best results it is important that both you
and your partner understand that you are likely to get pregnant if you have sex
during your “fertile window.” It is
also critical that you decide beforehand what you will do during this “fertile
window” if you are trying to avoid getting pregnant – you may decide to use
another method or abstain from sex during this time.
How to use CycleBeads
Q. What is the darker bead for?
A. The darker bead on the CycleBeads is to help a woman know
if her cycle is shorter than 26 days. CycleBeads are most appropriate for women
who have cycles between 26 and 32 days long. If a woman starts her period
before she puts the band on the dark bead, she has had a cycle that is shorter
than 26 days. If that happens more than once in one year, then she should
consider another alternative to meet her family planning needs.
Q. What if I'm using CycleBeads and I start my period
before I get to the darker bead?
A. If you start your period before you get to the darker
bead that means you have had a cycle that is less than 26 days long. CycleBeads
work best for women who usually have cycles between 26 and 32 days long. If you
have more than one cycle less than 26 days long in a 12-month period,
CycleBeads will not work well for you and you should use another alternative to
meet your family planning needs.
Q. What if I'm using CycleBeads and I start my period
before I finish all the beads?
A. This is what will happen most of the time. As soon as you
start your period, just skip over any remaining beads and put the ring on the red bead. Then
continue moving the ring one bead per day.
Q. What if I'm using CycleBeads and I get to the last
bead, but I still haven't started my period?
A. If you move the ring to the last bead and you don’t start
your period by the next day that means you are having a cycle that is more than
32 days long. CycleBeads work best for women who usually have cycles between 26
and 32 days long. If you have more than one cycle that is more than 32 days
long in a 12-month period, CycleBeads will not work well for you and you should
use another alternative. If you move the ring to the last bead and you don’t
start your period within a week, you should consult your doctor.
Q. What should I do if I forget to move the ring?
A. It is best to always mark the day that you start your
period on a calendar. If you know the date you started your period this cycle,
you can go to your calendar and count the days between that date and today.
Then count the same number of beads on the CycleBeads, beginning with the red
bead. Just move the ring to the correct bead and continue moving the ring every
day. If you are unable to determine what day you started your cycle, wait until
your next period to begin using CycleBeads.
Q. If I start my period late at night or early in the
morning, what should I do about moving the ring?
A. You should move the ring to the red bead on the day that
you start your period. If you know that you started your period anytime before
midnight, move the ring to the red bead that day. The next morning (or whenever
you normally move the ring) you should move it to the following bead. If you
started your period during the night and are not sure what time it started,
move the ring to the red bead when you wake up and consider that day to be Day
1 of your menstrual cycle. You will then move the ring the following day.
Q. What if I bleed a little in the middle of my cycle?
A. If you bleed any time except when you are having your
period, you should check with your health provider. But for many women, a small
amount of bleeding around the time they ovulate is normal. Bleeding in the
middle of the cycle should not affect use of the CycleBeads.