Anyone use CycleBeads?

[LyndaB]

I've seen the ad for the CycleBeads in a couple of the last Mothering magazines and I was wondering if anyone had used them. Do they work? Right now we're using the Sponge, but I would like to not use it as much if I don't need to. I'm kind of lazy, so I just use the sponges when I have any cm, and not if I don't.:D

[Arduinna]

I wouldn't use them myself. The ones I've seen are based on the Billings method. In other words it's just a calendar system and has no way of adjusting to what your body is actually doing.

[LyndaB]

Thanks! I went on their website, and it seemed like it would be exactly like what I'm doing anyway, so I think I'll pass.

[Mallory]

I don't know anything about the beads, although they do look like the calendar method. BUT that is not the Billings Method. The Billings Method is just based on CM not on temps and CM which gives you a more accurate indication of ovulation.

I also wanted to warn that you are fertile the first few days after CM too. Usually the CM is before ovulation, so it can keep any sperm alive, but there will be very little when you are actually ovulating because the egg is right there. In fact what you are doing sounds sort of like the billings method, but maybe you should check out the website or TCOYF to avoid any mistakes.

[Arduinna]

The ones I saw advertised online said they were based in the Billings method.

http://www.babyhopes.com/cyclebeads.html

[Mallory]

I still didn't see on the Cyclebeads page any thing about the Billings method, but I did find this on the billings website (http://www.woomb.org/bom/circdiag/circdiag.shtml) so I can see how that would be similar. Except the billings site IS based a womans own symptoms and not on number of days

[Arduinna]

I probably posted the wrong link, since I went to more than one and was in a hurry when I posted the link and didn't confirm if that was the right one . Regardless, I was just trying to be helpful and I'm not at all interested in getting into an intellectual debate of the names of the different methods.

I wouldn't use the beads myself, if they work for someone else cool.

[LyndaB]

Thanks Mallory! I pretty much use the Sponge from the time I have CM till I'm pretty close to my period. I wouldn't really mind if I got pregnant, but I don't mind waiting either.:)

[feebeeglee]

I wanted CycleBeads and we are waay too poor to afford even $15, so my husband wrote this web page for me.

The Fertility Wizard
http://www.gleeson.us/fertility/

It uses the same method as the CycleBeads, for anyone who is interested. Which by the way, has a 95% success rate when used to avoid pregnancy :D

Totally free, non-SPAM helpful link :thumb

[CdnAloha]

feebeeglee, your dh is a total sweety for doing that for you. :)

Tell him he did a great job!

[umsami]

Phoebe:

What a cool little site your husband made for you. :)

I'm planning to order the cycle beads, but have to wait until I have 4 consecutive periods. I just got my first one post-baby, so it may be a few months.

I can't use my Persona monitor until I stop breastfeeding... so that will be at least one year.

:)

[Melaniee]

Cool site feebs...all of this is really new to me, so I'm not sure if I'm ready to trust that method alone, yet. Does anyone?

[meister31]

Thanks! Cool site--I was going to order cycle beads but since I'm on line at least once a day I think I will go there instead.

[feebeeglee]

I'm glad everyone likes it!

I have been using it exclusively for the last few months, and I have also been paying vague attention to CM but not charting anything.

So far, I have discovered that I really am just about to show fertile signs as my 'fertile' Fertility Wizard lights up, like within a day, and that I am about a day to 2 days dry again when it goes back to the 'infertile' Wizard.

So yes, I'd say it works.