CycleBeads for conception

Once considered a tool for preventing pregnancy, CycleBeads are now being used by women to achieve pregnancy. Researchers from Georgetown University’s Institute for Reproductive Health created the scientifically-based tool to help women discover the fertile days in their menstrual cycle. The plan initially was to avoid those days in order to avoid pregnancy. But now, many women are finding CycleBeads useful when they want to get pregnant.

According to the American Infertility Association, about 20% of women do not know when their fertile days are and are unsuccessful at becoming pregnant because of that. CycleBeads easily and visually let women know where in their cycle they are most fertile.

The beads identify days 8 through 19 which are the most fertile days of her cycle. These 12 days consider the life span of the egg and the viable life of sperm as well as average variations in the timing of ovulation.

“We originally developed CycleBeads with a focus on helping women prevent pregnancy. However we’ve been pleasantly surprised with the number of women who are also using them to achieve pregnancy. Since this tool helps women identify their fertile days, it significantly improves their likelihood of conceiving,” said Victoria Jennings, Ph.D. director of the Institute for Reproductive Health and co-developer of Cycle Beads.

Using CycleBeads is easy. Move a black marker over a single bead as each day passes. The beads change color on the fertile days. The number of beads is based on each woman’s individual ovulation cycle. The kit for pregnancy includes materials that support pregnancy: a journal, folic acid and other goodies like a scented candle.

“Many doctors recommend that women try to get pregnant for up to a year before addressing concerns about fertility. If a woman is using the information that CycleBeads provides and is tracking key data such as when she is having intercourse and when she gets her periods, potential fertility issues can be identified more quickly. This give her and her doctor a lot more information with which to work,” said Jennings.

Source: Medical News Today