This just in…
The Institute of Natural Family Planning, College of Nursing, Marquette University, is launching an NFP study. This e-mail is to provide you with the information about recruiting volunteers for the study (see below).
The study is a randomized comparison of two Internet supported methods of NFP. This is the first randomized comparison study of NFP methods since the late 1970s-early 1980s.
All eligible participants for this study will receive a free ClearBlue Easy Fertility monitor (value, $200.00).
If you qualify, they encourage you or your married friends to consider taking part in this study.
Marquette University
College of Nursing
Institute for Natural Family Planning
Effectiveness Study on Two Internet-Based Natural Family Planning Methods
We are looking for couples who are interested in using natural family planning (NFP) to avoid pregnancy for at least one year and would be willing to participate in a study to determine the effectiveness of two NFP methods: 1) electronic hormonal fertility monitoring; and 2) self-observation of cervical mucus to estimate the time of fertility. Both of these methods will include the use of an online (Internet) charting system that automatically computes the estimated time of fertility.
To be eligible for the study the woman NFP user needs to:
· be between the age of 18 and 42
· be in a sexually active committed relationship with a man
· have a menstrual cycle range of 21-42 days
and
· have not used Depo (injectable) contraception for the past 6 months
· have not used oral or patch hormonal contraception for the past 3 months
· have not breast-fed baby for at least three months
· have no known fertility problems
· not be using medications that interfere with fertility
· not smoke cigarettes; and
· not be pregnant.
Her male partner needs to:
- be between the ages of 18 and 50 years-old
- have no known fertility problems, and
- be in a sexually active committed relationship with his lone woman partner.
The potential participants will also need to be open to a possible pregnancy.
When used correctly the NFP methods are estimated to be 98-99% effective.
When not used consistently and according to instructions, the methods are estimated to be 86-90% effective.
All participants will receive a $200 ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor and $10 for each menstrual cycle charted online. However, the participants who are in the cervical mucus observation group will only receive the fertility monitor after completing the 12 months of charting. Couples who agree to participate will be automatically assigned either to the fertility monitor or the cervical mucus group.
All participants will be asked to fill out a 10 item user satisfaction survey at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months.
If you are interested in participating please visit this Web site: http://nfpstudy.marquette.edu
If you wish to immediately register, see:
http://nfpstudy.marquette.edu/portal/login.php
If you have further questions about this study please contact:
Dr. Richard J. Fehring, PhD, RN
414-288-3838
12 Responses to Marquette U. seeks Participants for NFP Study
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This is wonderful, I am so glad they are beginning more studies. We would sign up if we weren’t trying for a child right now. I will pass this on to others. Thanks for the info!
You can’t already be pregnant?!?
Dratz. We would totally do this.
i like how you get to state your intentions at the begining of each cycle! i have heard how past studies treated couples who dropped out to conceive as “failures”. we signed up!
I’m not sorry that you’re pregnant, LambsWirth! You have certifiably some of the cutest babes around that are no doubt huge spiritual bundles of love as well!
And alison, I do like that feature as well. While it’s important to measure effectiveness in postponing pregnancy, it defies the spirit of NFP consider conception a failure. It’s all about intention and dignity, I think.
Does anyone else think it’s a little funny that they bolded and underlined “woman” to clarify who’s cycle is being charted???
We’d like to sign up… Gonna wait a week first, might not eligible if you know what I mean.
321contact, I *do* know what you mean. God’s will be done!
I just love the “possible pregnancy” disclaimer. In any normal world people are aware that sex leads to babies.
I kinda wish we were available for the study, but I’d hate to abandon my trusty CCL method!
Why are the study participants not required to be married? Is this not a Catholic University or what? What kind of stability does your study have if the participants aren’t in a legal, contractual relationship? Idiotic. There are plenty of married couples who would do this without opening the study in such a politically correct way. The Institute for NFP should know better. Aren’t we a little tired of science with no ethics attached?
Barbara, I absolutely understand your shock and concern. I might invite you to take a deep breath and introduce your friend zeal to it’s mother, prudence. Here’s the official reply from Theresa Notare, the USCCB’s NFP Queen:
“Last week (Feb. 12) I had sent an announcement from Marquette University’s Institute of NFP concerning the recruitment of volunteers for a federally funded NFP study. In my communication with you, I neglected to add that the announcement was that from the official grantee, written in secular language and not edited for a Catholic audience. This e-mail is to apologize for any confusion or offense as well as provide some context so that you may be encouraged to promote participation in this study.
The U.S. federal government called for NFP research proposals in June 2008 through their department of Health and Human Services. This was a highly competitive grant that was issued at the very end of the Bush administration. The panel of reviewers who examined the grant proposals were from the field of family planning research and not wholly supportive of this study grant.
In order to obtain the grant funds, the staff of Marquette University’s NFP Institute had to use some of the language that is acceptable to the review panel (e.g., “sexually committed partners” rather than “married couples,” etc.). Marquette, and Georgetown University’s Institute for Reproductive Health were the only Catholic NFP organization to win the grant. The other awardees were secular groups.
Marquette’s announcement for recruitment of volunteers was the official text from the awarded grant. It could not be edited due to the requirements of the grant; however, I should have warned you to re-write the announcement if you had wanted to use it in a church setting. Neither this office nor that of Marquette University’s Institute of NFP meant to convey that marriage was “optional.”
With regard to the importance of the research, it is most definitely worthy of attention. This kind of NFP effectiveness study has been needed and costs a great deal of money. To have the Federal Government fund it, will be to all our advantage.
Dr. Fehring has done solid scientific work over the years and is well published in peer-reviewed journals. His dedication, professionalism, and faithfulness to the Catholic Church is unquestionable. So few Catholic scientists have responded to Paul VI’s call for more scientific study on the natural methods, that it is important to support those who generously and competently come forward. I again apologize for any misunderstanding or offense and ask you to consider passing this information along to married couples who may want to participate in the study.”
If you have any questions or concerns beyond that, I might suggest contacting Dr. Fehring or Theresa Notare.
I would love to do this study. My husband and I have five children under 8 and really feel very blessed but really can’t imagine another blessing right now or anytime soon. The only difficulty is that baby is only 7 months old and still nursing all the time. Should I wean her for the study? Isn’t there any way to join the study with a nursing baby?
Does anyone know if the Ovacue is accurate for nursing mothers. I need to find an accurate method to predict fertility naturally for nursing mom with lots of stress. I have gotten pregnant several times while nursing a baby even through the night without a period. I have used the mucus method to space, but God keeps blessing us with children when friends of ours have to try so hard to conceive.
I have a question: I was recently on the Faith & Family Live website and noticed a comment that said that you could be in the study if you are nursing but have had at least 3 periods. Is this true? If so, I would really like to join the study as I meet that criteria.
I’d try contacting Dr. Fehring directly. His information is at the bottom of the post.