How to Use the Standard Days Method of Family Planning

The Standard Days method of family planning is a natural method of birth control. Developed by researchers at the Institute for Reproductive Health at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, the Standard Days method is popular among couples whose religious beliefs prevent them from using other methods of contraception, such as birth control pills or intrauterine devices, or IUDs. The Standard Days method helps women track their menstrual cycles and recognize when they are most fertile, so they can avoid unprotected sex during that time period.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Calendar
• Cycle beads (optional)

Calendar Method

1.  
   Mark the day you get your period on a calendar. This is Day 1 of your cycle.
2. Mark the remaining days of your cycle as Day 2, Day 3, and so on until you get your period again. According to the research behind the Standard Days method, you will be most fertile on Days 8 through 19.
3.  
   Abstain from sex, or from unprotected sex, during Days 8 through 19 of your cycle. During Days 1 through 7 and Days 20 through the rest of your cycle, you are unlikely to become pregnant and may engage in intercourse.

CycleBeads Method

4. 1
   Track your cycle using CycleBeads if you prefer. Many couples who use the Standard Days method use CycleBeads to track the woman's fertility cycle. CycleBeads are a circular string of 32 color-coded beads, suitable for women with menstrual cycles lasting up to 32 days.
5.  
   Use the rubber ring on the CycleBead string to track the days of your cycle. The single red bead on the string represents Day 1 of the cycle, so start with the rubber band there on the day your period starts.
6.  
   Move the rubber band from bead to bead as your cycle progresses. Make note of the color progression of the beads. Brown beads represent the less fertile days of your cycle, when you are highly unlikely to become pregnant. The white, glow-in-the-dark beads represent the fertile days of your cycle when you should abstain from sex or unprotected sex.

Tips & Warnings

• The Standard Days method is based on research of women with menstrual cycles lasting from 26 to 32 days. If your menstrual cycle is longer or shorter than this, the method may not be as effective or safe in preventing pregnancy. This method also is not for women with irregular menstrual cycles.
• The effectiveness of the method depends on abstaining from sex or using protection during the fertile days of a woman's menstrual cycle. If you find this period of abstinence difficult, use a different method of family planning.
• As with any method of birth control, except total abstinence, the Standard Days method is not foolproof. During the infertile days of your cycle, it is highly unlikely you will become pregnant, but it is not impossible.

Read more: How to Use the Standard Days Method of Family Planning | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_7490135_use-days-method-family-planning.html#ixzzG3pxgsZQG