As Pope Francis writes in Amoris Laetitia, our sexuality “is a gift from God that enriches the relationship of the spouses. As a passion sublimated by a love respectful of the dignity of the other, it becomes a ‘pure, unadulterated affirmation’ revealing the marvels of which the human heart is capable. (AL, 152) In other words, as a gift of married love, the conjugal act is a symbolic reflection of the inner form of love, which is a vow. “I love you,” means I love you completely and forever.
Whatever God’s plan for a married couple, true love is always fruitful and life-giving. As married couples renew their vows through the conjugal act, they are called to responsible openness towards co-creating new life with God. Family planning decisions are prayerfully made through mutual discernment, enlightened by faith. This is where “Natural Family Planning” comes in.
What is Natural Family Planning (NFP) a.k.a. Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABM) of Family Planning?
Natural Family Planning (NFP), or Fertility Awareness Based Methods (FABM) of Family Planning, is the umbrella term for the natural, healthy, morally acceptable methods of family planning recommended by the Catholic Church to help couples space, achieve, or avoid pregnancy. It helps married couples either achieve or postpone pregnancies, while respecting the love-giving (unitive) and life-giving (procreative) nature of the sexual act. NFP enriches a couple’s relationship while encouraging a level of intimacy that reflects marital love: one that is free, total, faithful, and fruitful. Furthermore, NFP is completely natural, “green”, and “organic”– no drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid or achieve pregnancy.
During each monthly cycle, a woman normally becomes fertile and then infertile, with her body providing natural signs to indicate where she is in her cycle. Scientifically and medically researched methods of fertility awareness teach couples how to observe and interpret these signs, enabling them to achieve or avoid pregnancy naturally. When couples learn about NFP, almost all will, at the very least, come to a greater appreciation for the wonderful gift of their fertility, their sexuality, and how their bodies were made.
Benefits of Natural Family Planning
- No side effects
- Over 90% effective at achieving pregnancy
- With many different methods, greater than 98% chance of avoiding pregnancy
- Enhances communication with partner
- Cost-effective
- Can help diagnose reproductive health issues
Learning the Basics of NFP
There are a variety of “NFP 101”/“Intro to NFP” Courses that can help couples learn the basics before committing to a particular method or instructor. Here are a few that we recommend:
- NFP Basics
- Human Love in the Divine Plan-an Intro to NFP from Pearl & Thistle
- NFP Life by The Marriage Group
- Natural Plan from Couple-to-Couple League
- Green Sex: The Case for Natural Family Planning, by Jason Evert
NFP Methods and Providers
Billings Ovulation Method
The Billings Method is one of the original methods and relies on just one sign of fertility—cervical mucus. It works well for women with regular cycles and has as relatively low ongoing cost. For more information about the Billings Method, visit boma-usa.org or call 651-699-8139. Find a Billings instructor here.
Creighton Model FertilityCare System
The Creighton Model is a scientifically proved method that required couples to observe and record certain biomarkers. Using these biomarkers, certified FertilityCare practitioners assist each couple in determining when they are fertile as well as identifying possible health concern, and follow-up as needed. Works well for women in regular or irregular cycles and women with reproductive concerns that can help identify root causes and offer treatments. For more information, visit fertilitycare.org or contact Orchid FertilityCare in Escondido, CA.
Sympto-Thermal Method
The Sympto-Thermal Method is a relatively inexpensive method that charts multiple signs of fertility, mainly cervical mucus and basal body temperature. Cost-effective and can be used for both regular and irregular cycles, however women with irregular sleep schedules may find it challenging. Couple-to-Couple League (CCL) and SymptoPro are two organizations that specialize in teaching and promoting the Sympto-Thermal Method. Certified teacher couples are available in-person or online. To connect with a local CCL couple, contact the Office for Family Life & Spirituality (858-490-8256) or visit https://ccli.org/learn-nfp-from-ccl/.
Sympto-Hormonal Methods
In addition to the traditional biomarkers of cervical mucus and basal body temperature, Sympto-Hormonal Methods track hormone levels with fertility monitors to assess when a woman is fertile. The fertility monitor readings provide a high degree of objectiveness, although it is not the most cost-effective method. The best known Sympto-Hormonal Method is the Marquette Method. Click here to learn more about Marquette or visit marquettemethod.com to find an instructor. Boston Cross Check is another Sympto-Hormonal Method that meets the USCCB’s standards for diocesan NFP ministry. Visit bostoncrosscheck.com to learn more and find an online instructor. FEMM Health is another great resource for fertility awareness with a special emphasis on hormonal health, with multiple San Diego-based instructors. Click here to find an in-person instructor in Southern California.
Parish NFP Ministry
What would a parish NFP ministry look like? Here are some suggestions:
- A parish NFP ministry leader doesn’t necessarily need to be an instructor, but they should have an understanding of the NFP landscape with the pastoral skills to respond to needs with compassion and sensitivity.
- Get trained as an NFP Ministry Leader (a.k.a. NFP Ambassador!)
- Start a support group for women practicing NFP.
- Work with youth & young adult ministry to provide fertility awareness education to teens and young adults.
- Provide a contact in the bulletin/website for people to contact with questions they may have.
- Be a source of knowledge about NFP for parish leaders.
- Prepare information about NFP that can be included in bulletin, Flocknotes, or social media.
- Stay current by remaining in contact with diocesan and USCCB leadership.
- Distribute pamphlets and flyers that provide basic information about NFP.
NFP Support & Education in San Diego
There are a handful of NFP instructors in various methods here in San Diego. Please feel free to contact the Office for Family Life for referrals and recommendations for finding an NFP class or instructor that’s right for you.
Additional Resources
CANFP (California Association of Natural Family Planning): CANFP unites under one umbrella all those who use, teach, and advocate for NFP, and our members are our strongest resource: the physicians who provide authentic women’s healthcare, the Practitioners and Certified Teachers of all the natural methods instructing couples in its use, the couples who use NFP and reflect its values in their families and communities, the clergy providing the spiritual formation and context, and the churches, dioceses, hospitals, and profile organizations who collaborate in providing access to these services throughout the state.
FAbM Base: A great resource for women and couples to engage in the use of fertility awareness by finding community and necessary resources. A safe space to learn, discern, and ask questions without being met with disbelief or lack of help.
Natural Womanhood is a non-profit dedicated to the promotion of fertility charting, as a way to promote disease prevention, self-knowledge, relational intimacy, and effective family planning. Natural Womanhood helps young women and couples regardless of their income, ethnicity, or religion.
Contact Information
Staff
- Director: John Prust
- Associate Director: Janelle Peregoy
- Associate Director: Wendy Baez
- Administrative Assistant: Angie Rosario