Natural Family Planning
What is Natural Family Planning?
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the general title for several scientifically-developed, natural methods of family planning that can help married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancy in a manner that is morally sound and consistent with God’s will for human sexuality.
How does NFP work?
NFP works by instructing married couples on how to observe and interpret the wife’s signs of fertility. It enables married couples to work with the body by understanding how a woman’s monthly cycle provides signals concerning when she is fertile and when she is not. NFP is based on extensive scientific research into human fertility and leverages nearly a century of practical use by couples around the world. This knowledge enables married couples to promote conception by engaging in intercourse during the wife’s fertile times or avoid conception by practicing chaste abstinence during this same period.
Who can use NFP?
Any married couple can use NFP, and a woman need not have “regular” cycles for it to be effective. The key to NFP is cooperation and communication between husband and wife, as it requires a shared commitment by both spouses.
What are the benefits of NFP?
There are many benefits to the use of NFP. First among them, couples are taught to understand and live God’s will for married love. NFP fully respects both the unitive and procreative aspects of marital love and ensures married couples live their vocation in a manner consistent with God’s design.
NFP does not harm reproductive health and is good for the body. It has no harmful side effects similar to those caused by contraception and is inexpensive.
NFP fosters communication and intimacy between spouses and encourages mutual respect. NFP also values children as intended by God.
How “effective” is NFP?
NFP is not contraception, and as such, its effectiveness works both in terms of achieving and postponing pregnancy. When attempting to achieve pregnancy, couples have critical information available to them to maximize their chances of conceiving a child. When wishing to avoid pregnancy for sufficiently serious reasons, couples who correctly follow NFP guidelines achieve effectiveness rates of at least 97%.
Where can my spouse and I learn how to use NFP?
The best way to learn NFP is from a qualified instructor. The Diocese of Arlington maintains additional resources on NFP along with links to trusted instructional programs. Please go to https://www.arlingtondiocese.org/nfp/ to learn more.
