What is a Regular Cycle for the Standard Days Method?
We have recently heard of the Standard Days Method (SDM) of family planning - the method where the woman keeps track of her cycles with the "Cyclebeads" and avoids unprotected intercourse on days 8-19. We are impressed that the one-year pregnancy rate with correct use was only 4.8% and with "typical use" was 12%. For many women in our community,
this is the only kind of method they will use.
One criterion for SDM is that women have regular periods between 26 and 32 days. But many of our clients don't keep track of their periods precisely. Is there a way to find out if such women are eligible?
Yes. In the clinical trial of SDM, the investigators faced the same issue. It turns out that if you ask simple questions such as the following:
For regularity of cycles: "Do your periods come more or less once a month?" and "Do your periods come more or less when you expect them?"
For duration of cycles: "When was the first day of your most recent period?" and "When do you expect your next period to come?"
. . . you can easily assess if a woman is a good candidate. This was the kind of approach used in the study. Alternatively, one could require that women keep a menstrual history before using the method, but that would restrict access and add little to effectiveness.
Reference: Sinai I, Jennings V, Arevalo M. The importance of screening and monitoring: the Standard Days Method and cycle regularity. Contraception 2004;69:201-6.
The "Pearls" offer answers to commonly asked questions about family planning. These "Pearls" are prepared by Dr. James D. Shelton, Senior Medical Scientist, Office of Population, United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
