Raised Catholic but no longer traditionally practicing — and well aware of jokes about the old "rhythm and blues" method of contraception — I was thrilled to discover an effective natural option to plan or prevent pregnancy. It's called CycleBeads, a string of plastic beads that functions as a tactile counting device for the Standard Days Method (SDM) recently developed at Georgetown University's Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH). (Resources and training are available at irh.org). Couples avoiding unprotected intercourse during the "fertile window," marked by white beads for days 8/19, are unlikely to conceive.

According to Victoria Jennings, Ph.D., director of IRH, 80 percent of women between the ages of 25 and 35 have cycles within the 26-to-32-day range necessary for correct use. Unlike pills and injections, CycleBeads has no physical side effects and requires no continuing expense. The beads are intended for long-term, monogamous couples because they offer no protection against STDs.

Improved dialogue between partners is a secondary benefit of the method. My husband checks the beads and marks the calendar himself. Then he asks me, "What day is it?" That's my favorite part.

(See CycleBeads.com for more information.)

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