Ranchi, Feb. 9: Colour-coded beads are the latest being offered to women to avoid unwanted pregnancies.

The beads are expected to help women identify their fertile and non-fertile days and monitor their menstrual cycle.

The colour-coded set is called ?cycle beads? and is a part of the Standard Day Method (SDM) developed by the Institute for Reproductive health in Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA.

The process focuses on ?fertility awareness? and is being touted as the modern method of contraception.

In a seminar on ?Expanding Contraceptive Choices? held today in the state capital Priya Jha, the IRH representative, elaborated on the SDM and the cycle beads.

She said the Standard Days Method was initiated in Jharkhand in August 2004 in collaboration with the state health and family welfare department with pilot projects undertaken in two blocks ? Kanke and Ormanjhi.

The SDM is more natural and is without any side effects, as a result couples both at the rural as well as in the urban areas prefer them.

The set of beads is made of three colours ? red, brown and white.

The red bead is meant for the first day of the menstrual cycle.

Brown beads represent the ?no-risk days?.

The white beads represent the fertile days with maximum risks of conception. During these days users are advised either to use condoms or abstain from sex.

Jha further added that the so far the response to this method has met with positive response from the people. Doctors have given it a clean chit.

Ragini Sinha, project coordinator of Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra said: ?The most significant feature of this method is that it is natural. Women from Muslim communities are also using this method because they do not feel it contradicts their religion. Moreover, it has no harmful effects on the user.?