natural family planning

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the scientific, natural and moral title for the methods which help women and couples achieve pregnancy, avoid pregnancy, and evaluate their own gynecological health. There are many different benefits to using a natural system, here are just a few: 

The main reason we should use NFP is because it is a part of God’s design. God made our bodies with natural indicators and then gave us the virtues necessary, one of them being prudence, so that we could remain faithful to our natural biological function and still make the best choices in relation to our spouse and family life.  NFP therefore gives families the ability to work with God to plan and have an input on spacing the births of their children. Each cycle allows a couple to make the choice in the best interest of their entire family by discerning whether or not to add or avoid based upon their current life circumstances, which include your physical, mental, emotional, financial, and other factors specific to your family. This in turn means that couples spend more time communicating their intentions, motivating themselves to discuss their feelings, taking their desires to the Lord in prayer – and then making a choice that benefits the family.

So NFP methods help strengthen marriages because when a couple uses a natural system it requires them to cooperate with one another in one of the most intimate areas of their lives. NFP relies on clear communication and support from both members of the couple. There are times in every marriage where sexual abstinence occurs. NFP systems want to help couples live in a renewed courtship with one another and help them discover non-sexual ways to grow closer and express their love for each other. NFP has the potential to make good marriages great! 

On a biological level, Natural Family Planning is exactly what it sounds like, it is natural. When using the method of NFP that is best for you, you are observing the natural and biological indicators your body already produces. Therefore, using a natural system is good for your body and supports your reproductive health. Two of the biggest benefits of using NFP are; no harmful side effects such as ones you would encounter when using contraceptives and NFP helps teach women about their gynecological health and wellness. 

Finally, there are many methods of NFP. Each woman is different. Each couple is different and we all have our own life circumstances. Being able to pick from different methods is helpful to the couples that each method serves. There are systems that work with your most basic fertility signs all the way up to working with women or couples who are experiencing serious fertility and gynecological struggles. All the methods fit into one of the following three categories; Cervical Mucus Method (CMM), Sympto-Thermal Method (STM), and Sympto-Hormonal Method (SHM).