[This page is in progress. Email me if you have more questions or additions.]

For Catholics, Non-Catholic Christians going deeper, & those who’d like to know more on this issue: Why has the Church always believed in the unity of marriage and the immorality of contraception?

Volumes have been written about this. However, I’ll give an introduction, and you can check out some of my recommended links.

Catholics Come Home-why is the Church opposed to contraception?
Contraception & The Language of the Body (Christopher West)
The Church & Contraception: What it isn’t about, What it is about (Modern Commentaries)
30 Most Frequently asked questions on NFP, Catholic Family Planning, & Humanae Vitae (See especially pages 3-7)

What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural family planning, or NFP, is a method of achieving or postponing pregnancy by observing the changes in a woman’s body that naturally indicate her fertility. It has nothing to do with the old “Rhythm Method” (aka “Vatican Roulette”), and treats you like a person–body & soul. There are several different models of NFP, based on two essential methodologies: ovulation method and sympto-thermal.

What models of NFP are there?

An NFP fan has compiled a great list here, although it does include Standard Days Method, Cycle Beads and other methods based on the Rhythm method–not modern NFP. Working on building a better list.

How does NFP work?

Women are relatively infertile creatures. While men are fertile all the time, women ovulate once a month for twelve to twenty four hours, and can typically only conceive five to twelve days a month. A couple can pinpoint a woman’s fertile time by biological indicators—cervical mucus and body temperature. There are other signs, but these are the main ones. (More on signs of fertility here.)

A couple learns how to observe and chart a woman’s cycle by taking classes/ one-on-ones with an NFP teacher, and off they go! The great thing about NFP is that you can use it to either achieve or postpone pregnancy. In fact, when some couples decide they’re ready to conceive, but then run into infertility struggles, NFP often helps them where other fertility treatments fail.

What are the Benefits of NFP?

NFP…

• Has no negative side effects.
• Recognizes fertility as a gift, a normal healthy process, not a disease or side effect of sexuality.
• Does not interfere with future fertility.
• Is a shared method, which requires mutual responsibility. Are you a feminist? Why have you been bearing the burden?
• Deepens intimacy & renews romance (NFP couples have the same amount of intercourse as contraception-users)
• For Christians: Enhances the spiritual aspect of marriage by planning your family in way that’s not contrary to Christian teaching. (
• Is cost effective.The average woman pays $1000-5000+ over her reproductive lifetime on contraception, not including sterilization. NFP costs $0-280.

How effective is NFP?

For Achieving a Pregnancy: According to the Paul VI Institute, those using the ovulation method (Creighton Model) and having normal fertility 76% will achieve pregnancy after 1 cycles. Those rates go up to 90% after 3 cycles and 98% after six cycles. For those with “compromised fertility” 20-40% will become pregnant within six to twelve months of use by charting alone. When couples receive medical treatment along with charting, their pregnancy rate up to 80%. Numbers may vary with the different methods.

For Postponing Pregnancy: Overall the rate is as high as or higher than any contraception systems–97%-99% method-effectiveness! No, really. It’s THAT good. Plus, the continuation rate of NFP (people who love it and keep on loving it) is around 93%. The rate for contraception ranges from 43% to 72%. (See Jason Evert’s Love, Sex & Babies, page 2. Copyright Catholic Answers, 2004.)

(More on effectiveness studies here.)

I tried NFP and it didn’t work.

This is probably the most difficult objection to answer because it can mean so many different things and because it is usually extremely emotionally charged, so it is wise to proceed with great gentleness and sensitivity.

When properly taught and correctly and consistently used, NFP is 98-99% effective for postponing pregnancy. While NFP is not difficult to understand it usually does require some formal instruction to learn and use correctly. Often when someone says that they have already tried NFP and it didn’t work, the problem was that they never really learned NFP in the first place. Sometimes they read a pamphlet, website or book on NFP and thought they understood it well enough to use it, or tried the calendar rhythm method, an older method of NFP. The Rhythm method was developed around 1930, and is only effective if a woman has very regular cycles, which many women do not. Other couples who have experienced an unexpected pregnancy did learn NFP properly, but later decided that keeping a chart was unnecessary or that one or more of the rules did not apply to them or did not apply in the cycle in which they conceived.

When a couple who has experienced an unplanned pregnancy while using NFP has the chart of the cycle in which they conceived reviewed by an NFP teacher they will almost always find that they conceived as a result of misunderstanding or misapplying some aspect of the rules to avoid pregnancy. So the first suggestion for couples who believe that NFP doesn’t work for them is to meet with an NFP teacher and determine whether NFP really ‘didn’t work’ or whether they just didn’t really use NFP.

Statistically NFP is as effective as contraceptives, and true “surprise pregnancies” (those that occur despite consistent, correct application of the rules to avoid pregnancy) are so rare that they can honestly be considered little miracles, but they do occur and here we come to the heart of the difference between NFP and contraception – the question of who is really in charge of planning our families. (From Diocese of Madison FAQs, authored by yours truly; Cf.  Peterson, Sarah F. “Answering Four Common Objections,” Envoy Magazine: http://www.envoymagazine.com/familyplanning.htm)

Can NFP be used with irregular cycles?

Yes! NFP can be used with any type of cycle because it is a day-by-day observation of physical signs that determine the level of fertility at any given point, not a prediction or calculation based on past cycles (Rhythm Method). NFP can be used at various points in a woman’s reproductive life, including postpartum, during breastfeeding and perimenopause. (Answer courtesy of New Jersey NFP: http://www.njnfp.org/whatisnfp/faq.php)

I am expecting a baby and will be breastfeeding it. Will I be able to use NFP while breastfeeding?

The return of fertility after giving birth depends upon whether or not a woman is breastfeeding and how she is breastfeeding. It also depends upon the individual woman— there is a wide range of when fertility returns. The best thing to do in this circumstance is to consult with an NFP Provider for specific recommendations for your cycling pattern based upon your charting.

I want to discontinue hormonal contraception. Should I learn NFP first and then discontinue it or should I discontinue it now?

To really learn NFP, first you need to discontinue your use of contraception. While you may be able to learn the method in a theoretical sense, an important piece of learning NFP is to apply the information to your own cycles. Any charting you do while using hormonal contraception will reflect those hormones, not your own cycling pattern.

What’s involved in using NFP as one approaches menopause?

During this time of life, cycles may become more irregular—both shorter and longer. Because of this it is important to consider the days of menstruation possibly fertile. If a short cycle occurs, the cervical mucus flow may begin during the heavy flow days and be masked by the bleeding. Beyond that, it is important that there be good, consistent charting. Both the cervical mucus sign and temperature pattern provide valuable information about the fertile and infertile times. It is important to work with a certified NFP Provider for feedback during this time.

We struggle with infertility/ health problems. How can NFP help us?

There are various causes for infertility, and NFP can help with many them. NFP respects the unitive aspect of marriage (unlike in vitro fertilization), making it a moral choice for fertility treatment. It can be very effective for identifying, diagnosing and treating fertility issues. All NFP Methods can be used to identify irregularities in a woman’s cycle, but most notably the use of FertilityCare (the Creighton Method) has helped couples to identify and treat fertility problems including but not limited to general infertility, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), ovarian cysts, irregular or abnormal bleeding, polycystic ovarian disease, repetitive miscarriage, postpartum depression and hormonal abnormalities.

Where can I find instruction in Natural Methods of Family Planning (or NFP)?

Great question. If you’re religious or are comfortable with receiving formation from religious people (largely Catholic), call your local Catholic Diocese, usually the Respect Life Office or Family Life Office, and they can help you find a schedule of upcoming classes. Otherwise, I’ve not yet found like a universal web site of NFP classes. Different regions or states (New Jersey NFP Network, Philly NFP Network, California NFP Network) like local classes online as well.

I’m working on a Models/Methods section with links to all the different types of NFP, but you may also try the different models’ web sites, as they often have a national directory of classes online.

You may also try calling Natural Childbirth Centers, Catholic Hospitals or your Holistic Medical Professional for Referrals.

A last-ditch recommendation is completing and online course, such as one offered by Northwest Family Services and Couple to Couple League, which usually involve phone calls/ correspondence with living, breathing experienced teachers, which is a big help.

Having trouble finding a class? Email me at nfpblog@gmail.com, and I’ll help you find one!

The last, and very last, recommendation is to learn from a book. There are some great books out there, I don’t recommend it for your first try at NFP, because often times people misinterpret method rules, have a surprise baby [blessing], and swear off NFP altogether because they didn’t follow the rules. I recommend NFP Instructional Books (Taking Charge of Your Fertility, The Art of Natural Family Planning, etc.) as a supplement, rather than a sole means.

What is the typical course like? How is it taught?

The preferred method for teaching NFP is class instruction with private consultation. For the sympto-thermal methods, the course consists of three two-hour classes approximately one month apart. The medical methods, Marquette and Creighton, consist of one introductory class of 90 minutes with a series of private follow ups. Whatever format is utilized, instruction may consist of a presentation, learning activities, and personalized follow-up with chart review. Simply reading a book, or even attending a class without personal attention, is not adequate.

When there is difficulty finding a class, whether because of schedule conflicts or distance, home study options are available, although taking the class is always the first preference. Couple to Couple League has a newly revised home study kit, and Northwest Family Services has an online course.

(For Engaged Couples) How long before we get married should we take the classes?

You can start taking classes at any point before marriage, but it’s usually recommend that you start taking classes and charting four to six months before you get married in order to gain confidence with the method.

Do you know NFP-friendly Medical Professionals?

For the US, See One More Soul’s online list here. For all others, check with your local Natural Family Planning contacts. There are many NFP groups that are international, like Serena of Canada, Billings Ovulation Method, Creighton FertilityCare (and NaProTechnology), Couple to Couple League, Families of the Americas, and more.