Natural Family Planning

What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) refers to the practice of achieving or avoiding pregnancies according to an informed awareness of a woman's fertility. With the couples' knowledge of the woman's natural cycles it has also become a means of monitoring gynecological health.

What are the advantages of Natural Family Planning?

• No harmful side effects
• Non-chemical, non-mechanical method that does not interfere with the sexual act
• Reliable and effective during all life cycles (breast-feeding, postpartum, pre-menopausal)
• Inexpensive
•  May be used to achieve or avoid pregnancy
• Fosters self-knowledge
• Encourages couple communication because it is a shared responsibility

 What are the challenges?

• Requires patience and effort to learn.
• Instruction by a certified professional is essential.
• Requires more time to learn than other methods; however, once learned it takes less than 10 minutes daily.
• Abstinence during fertile periods is absolutely essential if pregnancy is to be avoided.
• Like any method of family planning, it is effective only if used properly.

How does it work?

It has been scientifically established that during each menstrual cycle a woman normally becomes fertile and then naturally infertile. As a woman goes through changes in her fertility, physical changes occur as well. These physical changes include changes in vaginal secretions from the cervix and changes in normal body temperature. Through NFP, couples learn how to interpret one or both of these signs and use this information to plan or avoid pregnancy.  Couples who wish to avoid pregnancy would avoid intercourse during the fertile time. For those who wish to achieve a pregnancy, the times of the greatest fertility are identified.

Is this the same as Rhythm?

Absolutely Not! The rhythm method tries to predict ovulation by using a calendar. If a woman has an irregular cycle, it is virtually impossible to use the rhythm method to predict with accuracy when she is fertile.

Can NFP work with irregular cycles?

Yes. Modern NFP assumes that every woman is irregular at least some of the time. In general, if her fertile time comes earlier or later than usual, she knows about it because of certain physical signs she has learned to identify.
NFP can be used at any stage of a woman's reproductive life and can be used by women with irregular cycles, women who are breast feeding, and women in pre-menopausal years.

How effective is NFP in avoiding pregnancy?

Numerous studies, including one by the U.S. government, have shown that NFP can be used at the 98-99% level of effectiveness for avoiding pregnancy. The guidelines for using the method must be taught by a certified instructor, and correctly followed by the user to achieve these levels of effectiveness.

Can NFP help achieve pregnancy?

Yes. With NFP you become aware of the most fertile days within your overall fertile time, and you will learn how to maximize your mutual fertility. Many couples of marginal fertility are helped by NFP training to achieve much wanted pregnancies, and the charts of those who may need medical help can assist the knowledgeable physician.

Are there other advantages to NFP?

The beauty of NFP is that it cooperates with the natural reproductive process. No artificial devices or chemicals are used. Women who use NFP become more knowledgeable about their own body. Because they are so aware of their own menstrual cycle, it is easier for them to identify indicators of possible problems and seek early medical evaluation and treatment. This awareness is helpful for women experiencing premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pre-menopause, or infertility.  Many couples experience an increased level of communication in their relationship as a result of using NFP. Using NFP can develop and enhance all dimensions of sexuality: physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual.  NFP is morally acceptable in all major religions, including the Catholic Church.

 Family Outreach Library

These resources are available for couples to borrow:

•             An Introduction to Natural Family Planning by Richard Fehring, Stella Kitchen and Mary Shivanandan  (booklet)
•             What Catholics Should Know About Natural Family Planning  (booklet)

 Resource Links

Billings Ovulation Method (www.boma-usa.org) is the most modern, scientific method of Natural Family Planning. It was developed by physicians John and Lyn Billings of Melbourne, Australia. Couples using the Billings Ovulation Method chart the woman's natural and unique signs of fertility each day. Based on the observations of sensation, guidelines within the woman's cycle are applied depending on the couple's desire to achieve or postpone pregnancy.

Couple to Couple League (www.ccli.org) provides information and resources for couples either wanting to learn more about Natural Family Planning to plan or postpone pregnancy.

Diocesan Development Program for Natural Family Planning (www.nccbuscc.org/prolife/issues/nfp/index.htm) is the United States Roman Catholic Bishops' website about natural family planning.

Pope Paul VI Institute (www.popepaulvi.com) for the Study of Human Reproduction is a multi-faceted organization which dedicates its programs of research, education, ethics, and service to building strong marriages and healthy families.  As the Institute pursues the development of morally and professionally acceptable reproductive health services, it is committed to the development of a culture of life based on responsible parenthood, responsible fertility regulation, and ethical means for the treatment of infertility and related reproductive disorders. Taking its direction from the wisdom of the Roman Catholic tradition, the Pope Paul VI Institute has been built on the rock of faith, continues to take its strength from that faith, and looks forward to serving God's people into the third millennium by the light of that faith.