|
As mentioned elsewhere, the Bead
System has been developed by
Pastoral & Renewal Services along
with the Fertility Awareness
Committee and Communication
Services to be a natural family planning
method that is effective, easy to
learn and easy to apply.
Every method is a balancing act
between complexity and acceptability.
Complexity refers to: the extent of
the medical science explained, the
number of biomarkers taken into
account and the level of difficulty in
understanding and applying the
derived rules. Acceptability refers to
the user-friendliness of the method,
the level of required couple discipline,
the monetary expense of the
method and the time investment necessary
to learn the method. In other words,
how simple is it to use.
The Bead System offers a very
unique balance of high acceptability
and yet enough complexity to offer a
high rate of efficacy for the couple.
Additionally, the Bead System is
inexpensive to produce, teach and
learn. We feel that no other existing
method balances complexity and
acceptability as well as the Bead
System. At the same time, we
acknowledge the advantages and
disadvantages of the Bead System in
comparison with other methods of
NFP.
Historically, the Bead System started
out as a Fertility Awareness method
developed by
Maternal Life International, located in Butte, for
use in Africa. Since that time, it has
been very successful there and in
Haiti. We have worked to adapt it to
an American audience, as well as
incorporate the latest Fertility
Awareness research (which is constantly
developing).
Our Diocesan Program also has a
theological component. The theology
helps the couple to understand how
the practice of a Fertility Awareness
method fits into the Christian understanding
of love, life and marriage.
Bead System Charts*
*(PDF format; Adobe Reader® required).
|
