Standard Days Method(SDM) Session III: Counseling on SDM

1. Standard Days Method(SDM) Session III: Counseling on SDM

2. Once a Woman and Her Partner Have Decided to Use the SDM • Teach client how to use SDM with CycleBeads or the paper-based method • Confirm client knows how to use the method and when to return to the provider

3. Practice Teaching Cycle Beads to Clients

4. The Paper Version of SDM

5. Monitoring Cycle Length • Periods must always come between darker brown bead and last bead. • If period comes early (before darker brown bead) or late (does not start the day after the last bead) more than once in a year, switch to another method.

6. Supporting Couple’s use of SDM During counseling: • Encourage women to discuss SDM use with their partners • Identify possible challenges and solutions • Role play talking with her partner • Invite partner to meet with provider BE SURE SHE LEAVES WITH A PLAN!

7. Involving Men During counseling, encourage women to discuss SDM use with their partner: Identify potential problems and solutions Role play talking with her partner Offer to talk with her partner Ask the client: Have you talked about this method with your partner? How will you communicate about the fertile days? How will you and your partner handle the fertile days? Have you and your partner ever used condoms? How do you and he feel about using them? Do you also know about other methods of family planning?

8. Managing Fertile Days How can you help clients identify possible challenges to using the SDM? What are possible ways the couple can handle the fertile days? Are these options feasible and appropriate in your community? What are ways in which you think men users can participate in SDM use in this community?

9. Key Messages for the Client Return to your provider: • If you had unprotected sex on a white-bead day when you can get pregnant • If you/your partner are having difficulty handling the fertile days • If your period starts before placing ring on the darker brown bead (short cycle) or if your period did not start after moving ring to the last brown bead (long cycle) • If your period has not returned and you think you might be pregnant • If you would like to use another method

10. Counseling Clients on SDMPractice, Observe, Offer Feedback

11. Key Counseling Topics for SDM Users • Efficacy (depends on the woman’s ability to track her cycle days as well as avoiding unprotected sex on fertile days.) • How SDM works • Remembering to move the ring daily and continue monitoring cycle length/regularity • Importance of couple’s discussing how to avoid unprotected sex with partner. • Informing SDM does not protect from STIs/HIV • When to return

12. Providing Support for Continuing Users “Come Back Any Time” Come back if: • You get your period early(it starts before you put the ring on the dark brown bead) • You get your period late (it does NOT start by the day after you put the ring on the last brown bead) • You have unprotected sex on a fertile “white bead” day Remember to offer condoms for dual protection and/or back-up!

13. Thank You! • Here is a link to multiple versions of the instructions for SDM in several languages. http://irh.org/?s=cyclebeads+instructions&search_type=resource&country=