The Global Health eLearning Center is pleased to offer this course on the Standard Days Method (SDM), a new and effective natural method of family planning. This method was developed through scientific analysis of the fertile time in the woman's menstrual cycle. The SDM can help expand contraceptive options and address unmet need for contraception. This course covers topics such as:

• How CycleBeads facilitate use of the SDM
    
• The advantages and challenges of the SDM
   
• Factors that can facilitate or limit use of the SDM
  
  
• The three-step process of SDM counseling
  
  
• Provider perspective and common medical barriers
   
• Strategies to make the SDM and CycleBeads more available in country programs 

Recent guidance from USAID describes how the method – with its low supply cost and attractiveness for couples who have not previously used contraception – can be offered by different levels of providers. This course also examines common misconceptions about natural family planning methods, provider disincentives and biases, as well as common medical barriers women may face.

Knowledge for Health Project, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Communication Programs (CCP), Family Health International(FHI), Management Sciences for Health (MSH), With IT Support from Google.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government or The Johns Hopkins University.