A New Bead on Birth Control

It's a difficult line to walk, and there's tension in her voice as she lays out the position she takes with family planning providers: "If you're part of a church-based group, [advise women to] abstain on fertile days. If you're part of a Planned Parenthood, or another such organization, offer CycleBeads along with condoms," she says. "The final choice is up to the couple, and not you and me. I want to make that message very clear, and I will say that over and over again . . . politely," she says.

In fact, Jennings tailors the many presentations that she makes on CycleBeads to the leanings of the group she's addressing. "The method is not about any philosophy," she says. "The method is flexible."

When counseling patients who use CycleBeads, Blumenthal says, he always talks about back-up plans -- condoms or emergency contraception -- "in case there's a lapse." Most U.S. couples using CycleBeads use a condom during their fertile days; according to Georgetown's research, only 15 percent of couples abstain. Blumenthal also discusses other contraceptive options that require less patient involvement, such as a patch by OrthoEvra that needs to be changed only once a week and the NuvaRing, inserted once a month.

"The convenience factor is real," said Blumenthal. "Patients often find more success with methods that are more convenient -- unless they are extremely motivated," he says.

On the other side of the fence, the idea of condom use along with CycleBeads isn't a crowd-pleaser.

"At Catholic institutions, we do not teach the use of barriers along with the fertile time," said Richard J. Fehring, director of the Institute for Natural Family Planning at Marquette University, in Milwaukee. "By definition, it's no longer natural family planning."

Jennings prefers to focus on CycleBeads' widening marketing potential.

For instance, she says, CycleBeads are now being sold in health food stores, where they are being positioned to reach an audience that's interested in chemical-free alternatives to existing birth control methods.

"Look at the percentage of people who use these methods now," she said. "It's extremely low, despite decades of experience. I'm excited to bring a new perspective to this. This method is easy and people say, 'Oh gosh, I get that,' and it reaches people."•

Alison Stein Wellner is a freelancer in New York who often writes about women's health.