Natural Family Planning

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

Couples using NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy. NFP reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child.

By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.

Who can use NFP?

Any married couple can use NFP. A woman need not have “regular” cycles. NFP education helps couples to fully understand their combined fertility, thereby helping them to either achieve or avoid a pregnancy. The key to the successful use of NFP is cooperation and communication between husband and wife–a shared commitment.

As a method of family planning, NFP: 

• calls for mutual responsibility by husband and wife;
• requires the couple to communicate;
• is based on scientific research;
• treats each menstrual cycle as unique and teaches a couple to observe their signs of fertility on a day-to-day basis;
• has no harmful side effects;
• is effective for those wanting to achieve or avoid pregnancy;
• can be used in special circumstances–such as, post-partum, during breastfeeding, and premenopause;
• is virtually cost free!

NFP is unique among methods of family planning because it enables its users to work with the body rather than against it. Fertility is viewed as a reality to live, not a problem to be solved.

What are the benefits of using NFP?

In NFP both spouses are taught to understand the nature of fertility and work with it, either to plan a pregnancy or to avoid a pregnancy. Couples who use NFP soon learn that they have a shared responsibility for family planning. Husbands are encouraged to “tune into” their wives’ cycles and both spouses are encouraged to speak openly and frankly about their sexual desires and their ideas on family size.

Other benefits include:

• Low cost.
• No harmful side effects.
• Effectiveness for achieving, spacing, or limiting pregnancy.
• Can be used throughout the reproductive life cycle.
• Marriage enrichment and mutual understanding.
• Appreciation for the value of children.
• Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person.
• Moral acceptability.

How effective are the NFP methods for avoiding pregnancy?

When couples understand the methods and are motivated to follow them, NFP is up to 99% successful in spacing or limiting births.

The effectiveness of NFP depends upon the spouses’ following the rules of the method according to their family planning intention (i.e., achieving or limiting births). Those who are strongly motivated to avoid pregnancy and follow the method strictly are very effective in meeting their goal.

Where can I learn how to use NFP?

The best way to learn NFP is from a qualified instructor– that is, one who is certified from an NFP teacher training program. Although medical professionals are gradually learning more about NFP and becoming more supportive of patients who wish to use it, they are not often trained to teach NFP. Contact the parish office at St. Hyacinth to find a certified NFP teacher.