What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural Family Planning reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of a child.  By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.

Natural Family Planning is:
An umbrella term for certain natural methods used to achieve or postpone pregnancy
Based on scientific research and day-to-day observations of the signs and symptoms of fertility that occur as part of each menstrual cycle
Effective – its effectiveness rates are comparable to contraceptive methods
Healthy – it’s free of harmful side effects
Holistic – it’s in harmony with couple fertility and it promotes emotional and spiritual growth that strengthens marital intimacy
Applicable to irregular cycles and during postpartum, breastfeeding and menopause
Morally acceptable to the Catholic Church and other major denominations and religions
Virtually cost free.

Modern Natural Family Planning IS NOT the Calendar Rhythm Method.

What are the Signs of Fertility?
A woman’s body provides three basic ways to identify the fertile and infertile times of her cycle. Recognizing the pattern of one or more of those physical signs forms the basis of all methods of NFP. The primary sign of fertility is the mucus released from a woman’s cervix. A woman learns to identify the normal, healthy, cervical mucus which indicates the days that intercourse is most likely to result in pregnancy. The second sign is her basal body temperature. Due to hormonal activity, a woman’s resting temperature changes during her menstrual cycle. Lower temperatures indicate ovulation has not yet occurred. Higher temperatures indicate a rise in progesterone which signals the end of the fertile time. The third sign is a change in the shape or texture of the cervix. Finally, secondary signs such as minor abdominal pain or pressure at the time of ovulation can also be observed. 

The Sympto-Thermal Method
The sympto-thermal method is a system using the mucus and temperature signs in a cross-checking way for the highest confidence and reliability in family planning. With this method, a woman needs just a minute to take her temperature when she wakes up each morning. During the day she takes a moment now and then to become aware of her cervical mucus. Her husband records a dot for the temperature on a chart, and at night she records a symbol to describe her mucus. This simple process gives the couple an accurate, day to day picture of her fertility. This particular method of NFP presented by the diocese’s trained instructors, teaches clients to:
Understand the signals of fertile/infertile times sent by a woman’s body during her menstrual cycle
Use these signals to identify the best time to achieve or postpone a pregnancy
Live in harmony with their fertility and with Catholic teaching on responsible parenthood
Strengthen their marital relationship through mutual reproductive responsibility.

View a list of Diocesan NFP Instructors and Upcoming Classes.

View a list of NFP Information Sessions.

Visit the following pages for Church Teachings on Human Life and
Responsible Parenthood.

Ten Suggestions for Days of Abstinence

DO say “I love you” daily.

DON’T avoid each other.

DON’T forget to say “Good Morning”, “Good Night”, “Hello”, and goodbye kisses.

DO hold hands as you watch TV, drive in the car, fall asleep at night, etc.

DO keep your appearance presentable.

DO avoid alcohol and suggestive books or movies that may lower resistance and affect your choice to abstain on fertile days.

DO reward each other whenever overwhelming feelings of desire are overcome with “rainchecks” or “IOU’s”.

DO small special things for each other (a favorite dessert, a flower, helping with supper or dishes, etc.). Remember, it’s the little things!

DO hold the sexy lingerie and special touches or kisses that are usually overtures to lovemaking until the infertile phase. 

DO make plans for the infertile phase…candlelight dinner, music and whatever your hearts desire.

DO share charting responsibilities so both of you are aware of possible fertile days and when infertility begins.

DO make a pact at the beginning of each fertile phase to support each other one day at a time through the period of abstinence.