What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural Family Planning or NFP is the general title for the scientific,
natural and moral methods of family planning that can help married couples
either achieve or postpone pregnancies.

NFP methods are based on the observation

of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of
the fertile and infertile phases of a
woman's menstrual cycle. No drugs, devices,
or surgical procedures are used to avoid
pregnancy. Moreover, it is based on scientific
facts about fertility from which the methods are
developed from research about women's
menstrual cycles and the signs of female fertility.

Since the methods of NFP respect the love-

giving (unitive) and life-giving (pro-creative)
nature of the conjugal act, they support God's design for married love.

Who can use Natural Family Planning?

Any married couple can use natural family planning. It does not require a
woman to have "regular" cycles. NFP education helps couples to fully understand
and interpret their combined fertility, so that they can discern when to postpone or
try to attempt pregnancy. The key to the successful use of NFP is cooperation and
communication between husband and wifea shared commitment.

How does Natural Family Planning work?

Since NFP methods are not contraception, their effectiveness work

both waysfor achieving and postponing pregnancy.

ATTEMPTING PREGNANCY
When couples wish to attempt pregnancy they can time sexual
intercourse to the fertile window of the menstrual cycle, thereby
optimizing the possibility of becoming pregnant.

AVOIDING PREGNANCY
When wishing to avoid pregnancy, studies show that couples who
follow their NFP methods guidelines correctly, and all the time,
achieve effectiveness rates of 97-99%.
Others, who are unclear about their family planning intention (i.e.,
spacing or limiting pregnancy) or are less motivated, will not
consistently follow the methods guidelines and have a lower
effectiveness rate of 80-90%.
 Natural Family Planning represents a unique approach to
responsible parenthood.

calls for shared responsibility by husband and wife

is based on scientific research about the signs of fertility
treats each menstrual cycle as unique
teaches husband and wife to daily observe the signs of fertility
has no harmful side effects
maximizes the possibility of achieving pregnancy when intercourse
takes place during the fertile phase of the wife's menstrual cycle
is effective for postponing pregnancy when intercourse takes place
during the infertile phase of the wife's menstrual cycle
respects the unitive and pro-creative nature of conjugal love

What are the benefits of NFP?

In NFP both husband and wife are taught to understand and live God's design
for married lovethis will give them countless blessings. NFP methods promote a
holistic approach to family planning which both respects procreation and has the
potential to deepen the intimacy of husband and wife. Therefore, NFP is good for
marriage. Its benefits are as follows:

Supports reproductive health

Has no harmful side effects
Is environmentally friendly
Is inexpensive
Cooperates with a couple's combined fertility
Is useful to either achieve or avoid pregnancy
Can be used throughout the reproductive life cycle
Requires shared responsibility and cooperation by husband and wife
Fosters mutual communication between husband and wife
Encourages respect for and acceptance of the total person
Promotes marital chastity
Values the child
Honors God's design for married love!
Difference between Natural Family Planning and Artificial Birth
Control

Marriage comes with special challenges that single people might not
appreciate. We want to be responsible parents, so we want to make sure we
reproduce on purpose. We also need healthy sex lives to keep our marriage strong.
As human beings, these two priorities will inevitably come in to conflict. If you are
worried about conceiving, your options are limited. Because the thing is, you cant
avoid pregnancy for free.

Natural Family Planning does not separate sex from responsibility. The act of
intercourse has a twofold meaning: sharing of love and giving of life. Married
persons who perform this act must accept both sides of the coin. While not every
marital act will result in a child, it must nevertheless be open to the possibility of
life. The act will be "open" to life as long as the spouses do nothing to "close" it.
Here's the difference between artificial birth control and NFP.

Natural Family Planning Artificial Birth Control

Does not interfere with the Destroys fertility given and

natural reproductive system and
process designed by God.
Strengthens marriage and family
It can also be used to ACHIEVE
pregnancy since it pinpoints
ovulation.
designed by God
It attempts to eliminate the
procreative meaning of marital
love from the symbol of self-
giving
Only used to avoid pregnancy

In the first case, one does something (takes a pill, uses a condom, etc.) to
deliberately "close" the life-giving power of sexual intercourse. However, in NFP no
such step is taken. They follow the natural patterns of the bodys fertility and
infertility which is place by God Himself. In using birth control devices, however,
they attack the meaning of the act -- they do the action of intercourse and then
undo part of it

NFP is based from self-control, which is necessary for healthy marriage. There
are times that married couple has to put aside the desire of sex because of
sickness, fatigue, and other reasons. In healthy marriage, love is shown in many
ways not just by being physical. When the spouses know that they abstain for good
reasons, they also come to trust each other more, and avoid treating each other as
objects of sexual pleasure rather than persons.

In artificial birth control, pleasure is the dominant element. It encourages

them to become slave of pleasure.

In addition, NFP is not just about postponing pregnancy. It can also be used to
achieve it. While some men take the burden of contraception upon themselves, the
majority of the time this falls to woman. Women are expected to keep to a daily
regimen of asbestos-level carcinogens, have fertility method installed in their
reproductive system, or get surgically altered.

Considering the failure rates of the varying methods and the side effects
caused by each, contraception might not be the most responsible way to plan your
family. With an intelligent method of National Family Planning, the man and woman
cooperate to family planning and they evaluate their family plan on a daily basis.
Additionally, if you decide to try to achieve pregnancy. All you have to do is just
adjust your sex habits. Unlike chemical or surgical contraception which can have
lasting effects on fertility, Natural Family Planning puts control of your fertility back
in your hands, allowing you to start or stop as you see fit.

By working together through the inconvenience, you get stronger in dealing

with hardships as a team and can better face the ups and downs in life together. If
you stick with it, you begin to appreciate what you are gaining through it.