Fertility Bracelets

History of the Fertility Bracelet

Since the early 2000’s, Femina Global teachers have guided workshops on Reproductive Health in rural areas of Guatemala.  

We initially collaborated with the national ALAs/Wings Asociación de Guatemala.   ALAs has been teaching the rhythm method of birth control by using “Cyclebeads.”  This is a large, beaded necklace (collar) with beige and brown beads and a rubber band to move to mark the beads.  The rhythm method , when followed carefully, is around 87% effective.  

It is a no-cost, no-chemical means of family planning.

The “necklace/collar,” as it is called in Guatemala, is popular with the indigenous, Maya women. The drawbacks of the original Cyclebead necklace were many: cost of $25-$35 each, the large size, the bead colors were not instructive. We needed a simple teaching tool which we could distribute to thousands of rural women and youth. The item had to be very low cost, discrete, and color coded, so that those who don’t read could still easily understand and follow the method.

In 2015, Genelle Grant, Ed.D. developed the Fertility Bracelet.  The Bracelet is made of 31 Pony-size beads on a 12” elastic string. 

This tool uses:

1.  the Red bead to mark the beginning of menstruation, 

2. Six (6) purple beads to show non-fertile days, 

3. Twelve (12) green beads to indicate fertility and growth – the seed will grow to a baby, 

4. Then twelve (12) more purple, non-fertile beads for days of “fiesta!” and play, until menstruation begins again.  

Moving a simple bobby pin ahead one bead marks the passage of a day.

The advantages to using this method are many and valuable:

This teaching tool orients students to the meanings and pattern of the colors of the beads.