All NFP methods are fairly similar because understanding the woman’s reproductive system is common to all methods. Here is what they share in common:
1. They all rely on the charting of observable signs of fertility and infertility in the woman and abstinence from all genital contact during the fertile time in order to avoid a pregnancy.
2. They are all reliable, highly effective, and free from side effects and the abortifacient nature that haunt all chemical forms of contraception and IUDs . We want to make assure you that these methods are NOT the old-fashioned rhythm method. Each of the national USCCB approved methods has its own organization that promotes the method, publishes materials, does research, and trains teachers. Each NFP method has excellent websites for more information. However, most charting apps for your cell phone don’t have those decades-long use and research as the methods we teach. In addition, most apps are based on the “rhythm method” and so can be prone to inaccuracies. Here is an excellent article that assesses the performance of these apps to avoid pregnancy. You might be surprised by their results! Performance of Fertility Awareness-Based Method Apps…
3. All NFP Courses are fairly lengthy because it takes time to learn and chart cycles in order to make sure you are charting correctly. It also takes time for both of you to understand the woman’s pattern of fertility and the fertility rules for your particular circumstance. We want you to feel empowered and confident in this knowledge, which isn’t something you can cram into a weekend study session!
4. All methods are couple-based and educate both of you to learn the method and to know how to chart and make decisions together about your fertility. Many married couples experience NFP as a blessing to their marital relationship because it is truly a shared method of family planning that also respects God’s wise and beautiful design in the woman’s body.
NFP Facts
- For Every Couple. It is compatible for use by all women during regular or irregular cycles, breast feeding, post-partum, pre-menopause or after discontinuing contraceptives.
- Effective. It has up to 99% effectiveness rate if properly learned and used according to instructions for avoiding or delaying pregnancy.
- Helps Infertility. It assists couples trying to achieve pregnancy by identifying days of fertility and pinpointing potential causes of infertility.
- Safe. It has no medical side effects.
- Inexpensive. There are no recurring costs after your initial instruction other than charts, stamps, thermometers.
- Builds Great Marriages. It is designed to be a cooperative method of family planning between you, as husband and wife, as you learn to understand and responsibly relate to th life-giving potential of your combined fertility.
- Morally Right. It is morally acceptable as NFP recognizes and respects the inseparable elements of the unitive and pro-creative purposes of the marital embrace.
How does NFP work?
Natural Family Planning (NFP), is an umbrella term to describe several methods to achieve or postpone pregnancy by monitoring signs of fertility and infertility present in women and involves periodic abstinence. Couples who wish to avoid pregnancy choose to abstain from all sexual relations during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle.
As a woman journeys through her menstrual cycle, certain changes in her body occur to indicate whether she is fertile or infertile. NFP teaches how to observe and chart daily one or more of these observable biomarkers: cervical mucus, vaginal sensations, basal body temperatures, and cervical changes. You will be taught how to cross-check and interpret these signs to determine fertile and infertile phases in the menstrual cycle, and how to follow rules for postponing or achieving pregnancy.
Different methods of NFP highlight different biomarkers of fertility. In the Diocese of Phoenix, we are pleased to offer most of the major national NFP methods. You are encouraged to read about about each type and to choose a full course of the method that seems just right for you!. As part of your training, you will be required to attend all your NFP classes and to provide charts to your NFP Instructor to confirm your knowledge of the method chosen. You can start your NFP classes together anytime after attending the God’s Plan for Joy-filled Marriage seminar.
“We started the class Using Contraception and will NOW use NFP for our form of family planning.”