Why Offer SDM?
Given its ease of use and lack of side effects, SDM appeals to many couples who are not currently using any family planning method, those relying on a traditional method and those who are dissatisfied with their current or past method. SDM empowers women by helping them learn about their fertility. This family planning method is an important addition to the method mix that could help many couples prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Empowers women: Women who learn and use SDM have increased knowledge of their bodies and their menstrual cycle. Studies have documented that with this increased knowledge, women's self-confidence is also boosted. Additionally, SDM use leads to greater levels of communication between partners and in many cases, this has made it possible for women to talk openly with their partners about how to manage the fertile days to avoid pregnancy.
Involves men: Because SDM involves using condoms or abstaining from sex on days 8-19 of the cycle, the method necessarily involves men. Offering SDM gives programs an opportunity to make serious efforts to reach men with family planning information and services and to incorporate gender issues into family planning counseling. Studies in multiple countries have demonstrated that men are interested in SDM and participate in method use by abstaining or using condoms during the fertile days, obtaining condoms and helping their wives keep track of the fertile days, including marking the date of period on the calendar and moving the ring on the bead each day. (Read article ENG).
Attracts new family planning users and helps meet unmet need: Study results appearing in the March 2008 issue of Contraception show that SDM brings new women to family planning. More than half the women who selected SDM had never used family planning before. In the Impact study in Jharkhand, 87% of all SDM users were new to Family Planning. Data on user characteristics show that the method reached a group of women with unmet need and those who did not want to use any kind of contraceptive hormones or devices. SDM appeals to a wide variety of women, regardless of age, education or rural/urban residence. (Read article ENG).
Improves access to family planning methods: Including SDM into the family planning method mix enables programs to reach women through a variety of service delivery approaches, especially at the community level. Evidence from a number of countries, including India, shows that SDM can be offered by physicians, nurses, auxiliary nurses and community volunteers, in both the public and private sector.
Reduces cost: CycleBeads® are relatively inexpensive compared to other methods of contraception. While trained providers, basic logistics systems, and information, education, and communication materials are critical for making the method available, this involves little cost to on-going programs beyond small initial investments. Training requirements are also minimal; with as little as two-hours of training, providers with varied educational backgrounds can offer SDM.
