Incidence of irregular cycles among Mayan women who reported having regular cycles: Implications for fertility awareness methods
Burkhart, M.C.; de Mazariegos, L.; Salazar, S.; Hess, T.
Contraception 59(4): 271-275
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 10457873 DOI: 10.1016/s0010-7824(99)00030-xDocument Number: 283554
This article reports on the irregular cycle incidence among Mayan women who reported regular cycles. Data from a research study of a blanket 9-19 calendar rhythm method were analyzed to assess the regularity of cycles among the subjects. The necklace method tested in this study is a natural family planning method utilizing the "blanket rule". Sexual abstinence starts on day 9 of the menstrual cycle until day 19. A necklace with 30 beads is used as a mnemonic device. Findings showed that the menstrual cycles of highland Guatemalan women may not be very regular, indicating that women interested in practicing a method with a standard rule of abstinence could be taking risks of getting pregnant. Pregnancies occurred during the course of the study, suggesting cycles of irregularity. Given these results, programs that teach fertility awareness methods should help Mayan women monitor the length of their cycles more closely.