NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING

(Click here for a listing of NFP contacts)

What is natural family planning?

·   A natural method of achieving or postponing pregnancy requiring no drugs, devices or surgical intervention.

·   A scientifically proven and highly effective method using observations of changes in a woman’s body which identify times of fertility and infertility.

·   A way for couples to understand their own pattern of fertility, giving them a new appreciation for the miracle of conception and their part in the miracle.

·   It is NOT “calendar rhythm” or "the rhythm method."

The USCCB approves and supports NFP. Visit their NFP page by clicking the graphic above.

> Download PDF brochure on Diocese of Gary NFP

How does NFP conform to the Church’s moral teaching regarding sexuality? 

·   Traditional Church teaching affirms that sexual relations between married persons are good and have two interdependent purposes:
1.   The unitive end; this relationship unites the couple in an exclusive way
2.   The procreative end; this relationship is open to children.  The Church teaches a couple to become responsible parents by making informed choices based on the needs of their spouse, their children, and their community in which they live.

·   It is necessary to give consideration to the physical, economic, psychological and social conditions in relation to which couples generously decide to have children or to limit their family size.

·   Natural family planning respects these principles and allows a couple to make good decisions regarding family planning that will support the true meaning of marriage.

What are the Benefits of NFP?

·   Users learn to understand the naturally occurring patterns and signs of their reproductive cycle.

·   NFP fosters communication between partners.

·   Both partners learn to accept responsibility for family planning decisions.

·   NFP can be used both to obtain and postpone pregnancy.

·   NFP helps to show that children are a gift to the marriage and to the world.

·   NFP makes couples comfortable with their fertility and able to teach their children about healthy sexuality as the children grow into their own fertility. 

What are the methods?

·   Sympto-Thermal Method:  Charting daily observations of basal body temperature, as well as changes in the cervical mucus secretion to determine days of possible fertility.  A rise in temperature occurring at the time of ovulation is a result of the elevated progesterone level.

·   Ovulation/"Creighton" Method:  Based on an observation of the changing pattern of cervical mucus, the couple is instructed to define possible days of fertility and infertility.

But is it really effective?

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and a recently completed World Health Organization study indicate that the natural methods have a 97% effectiveness rate in preventing pregnancy, when the rules of the particular method are followed.   With proper teaching, cooperation and motivation, NFP is as effective as any other family planning method and more effective than most!  It is also the safest.

How is NFP taught?

·    NFP can be learned by anyone.  It is difficult to learn by self-teaching through reading and research.  It is easy to learn with competent instruction.  Click here for a listing of instructors in the Diocese of Gary.

Questions for Reflection:

·    How do I feel about sharing the responsibility of family planning with my spouse?

·    Do I feel it would benefit our marriage to better understand our own pattern of fertility?

·    What is the meaning of our sexual relationship?

Recommended Reading:

·    Natural Family Planning website, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

·    Couple to Couple League/Sympto Thermal Method

·    Pope Paul VI Institute, Creighton Model, and NaProTECHNOLOGY

·   CREIGHTON MODEL FertilityCare™ System

·    The How and Why of Natural Family Planning, Mary Shivanandan, Catholic Update (St. Anthony Messenger Press)

 

A portion of the content of this site is courtesy Dpt. for Marriage and Family Ministry, Diocese of Cleveland