Defining NFP

Welcome to Defining NFP!

Let’s begin by answering the basic question – What is NFP? Natural family planning (NFP) is a general name for family planning methods that are based on a woman’s menstrual cycle. NFP methods (also known as Fertility Awareness Methods) are based on day-to-day observations of the naturally occurring signs of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. It takes into account the uniqueness of each woman. A man is fertile throughout his life, while a woman is fertile for only a few days each cycle during the childbearing years. A woman experiences clear, observable signs that show when she is fertile and infertile. To avoid pregnancy, the couple abstains from intercourse during the fertile phase. Couples can also use NFP to achieve pregnancy because it identifies the time of ovulation.

Who can use NFP?
Any married couple can use NFP. A woman need not have regular cycles. The key to successful NFP use is cooperation and communication between husband and wife.

How effective is NFP?
NFP can be very effective, depending on how strongly motivated the couple is and whether they follow the rules of the method. Couples who carefully follow all the rules to avoid pregnancy can achieve a success rate of 97-98%. The key to successful NFP use is cooperation and communication between husband and wife.

What are the benefits of using NFP?

• Shared responsibility by husband and wife

• Virtually cost-free

• No harmful side effects

• Can be used throughout childbearing years

• Can be used in special circumstances such as post-partum, breastfeeding and pre-menopause

How can we learn to use NFP?
The best way to learn NFP is from a qualified instructor-one who is certified from an NFP teacher training program. [Click Here for a list of NFP Classes and Learning Options); for more information contact Peg Hensler, Associate Director for Marriage Ministries and NFP; [email protected]; 609-403-7128].

What does the Catholic Church teach about married love?
Marriage is an intimate, lifelong partnership in which husbands and wives give and receive love unselfishly. The sexual relationship expresses their married love and shows what it means to become “one body” (Genesis 2:24) and “one flesh” (Mark 10:8, Matthew 19:6). The sexual union is meant to express the full meaning of a couple’s love, its power to bind them together “the unitive aspect of marriage “and “its openness to new life” the procreative aspect.

What does this have to do with contraception?
The Church believes that God has established an inseparable bond between the unitive and procreative aspects of marriage. The couple has promised to give themselves to each other, and this mutual self-giving includes the gift of their fertility. This means that each sexual act in a marriage needs to be open to the possibility of conceiving a child. “Thus, artificial contraception is contrary to God’s will for marriage because it separates the act of conception from sexual union” (United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, p. 409).

A couple need not desire to conceive a child in every act of intercourse. But they should never suppress the life-giving power that is part of what they pledged in their marriage vows.

Are couples expected to leave their family size entirely to chance?
No. Serious circumstances “financial, physical, psychological, or those involving responsibilities to other family members” may affect the number and spacing of children. The Church understands this, while encouraging couples to take a generous view of children.

What should a couple do if they have good reason to avoid having a child?
A married couple can engage in intercourse during the naturally infertile times in a woman’s cycle, or after childbearing years, without violating the meaning of marital intercourse. This is the principle behind natural family planning (NFP).
 

Myth 1: NFP is based on guesswork: it's what people used before modern science developed contraception.
Reality: Natural Family Planning (NFP) is not based on folktales! NFP is a general title for the methods of family planning that are science-based, accurate, natural, healthy, reliable and moral. There are many NFP methods and all can be used to achieve or to postpone a pregnancy naturally.

Myth 2: NFP can be used only by women with regular cycles.
Reality: NFP does not depend on a woman having regular menstrual cycles. NFP treats each woman and each cycle as unique. These methods rely on daily observations of the woman's signs of fertility.

Myth 3: NFP is too complicated to be used by most people.
Reality: NFP can be used by anyone who learns the method and is motivated to apply the guidelines.

Myth 4: NFP is not a reliable method of family planning.
Reality: NFP is not only reliable, but it is the only authentic method of family planning.

Myth 5: There is no difference between NFP and contraception.
Reality: NFP methods are different from and better than contraception.

Myth 6: NFP does not allow for sexual "spontaneity."
Reality: Most of the time, "spontaneity" in sex is itself a myth!

Myth 7: Couples who use NFP have sex less often than couples who use contraception.
Reality: Frequency of sexual intercourse is based on a couple's intention and desire, not on the family planning method.

MYTH 8:  The Catholic Church wants people to have as many babies as possible.
Reality: In fact the Catholic Church encourages people to be both generous and responsible stewards over their fertility. 

MYTH 9: The Catholic Church does not want married couples to have sex just for pleasure. 
Reality: The Catholic Church wants married couples to have the best sex possible!