What is Natural Family Planning? What are the benefits of using NFP? Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an In NFP, both spouses are taught to umbrella term for certain methods used to understand the nature of fertility and work achieve and avoid pregnancies. These with it, either to plan a pregnancy or avoid Natural methods are based on observation of the a pregnancy. Couples who use NFP soon naturally occurring signs and symptoms of learn that they have a shared responsibility Family the fertile and infertile phases of a for family planning. Husbands are woman’s menstrual cycle. Couples using encouraged to “tune into” their wives’ NFP to avoid pregnancy abstain from cycles and both spouses are encouraged to Planning intercourse and genital contact during the speak openly and frankly about their sexual fertile phase of the woman’s cycle. No desires and their ideas on family size. drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are Other benefits include: used to avoid pregnancy. NFP reflects the • low cost dignity of the human person within the • no harmful side effects context of marriage and family life, • effective for achieving, spacing, or promotes openness to life, and recognizes limiting pregnancy the value of the child. By respecting the • can be used throughout a woman’s love-giving and life-giving natures of reproductive life marriage, NFP can enrich the bond • marriage enrichment and mutual between husband and wife. understanding • appreciation for the value of children Is NFP Rhythm? • fosters respect for and acceptance of NFP is not “Rhythm.” The Rhythm (or the total person Calendar) Method was developed in the • morally acceptable 1930’s. It was based on the theory that the time of ovulation could be determined by How effective are natural family calculating from previous menstrual cycles. planning methods for avoiding This method often proved inaccurate pregnancy? because of the unique nature of each When couples understand the methods and are woman’s menstrual cycle; some women motivated to follow them, NFP is up to 99% have very irregular cycles and almost all successful in spacing or limiting births. women occasionally have a cycle of Those who are highly motivated to avoid Marriage & Family Life Office unusual length. pregnancy and follow the method-defined rules Evangelization & Parish Life Secretariat On the other hand, NFP methods are very effective in meeting their goal. Diocese of Toledo are progressive. That is, they are based on You can view stories of couples who 1933 Spielbusch Ave. progressive, day-to-day observations of the use NFP and how NFP has impacted their Toledo, OH 43604 naturally occurring signs and symptoms of marriages by visiting: (419) 244-6711, ext. 715 the fertile and infertile phases of the www.YouTube.com/CoupletoCoupleLeague. menstrual cycle. NFP methods take www.toledodiocese.org/marriage-and-family advantage of the changes associated with ovulation, treating each cycle as unique. www.facebook.com/marriagefamily How does NFP work? Who can use NFP? Natural Family Planning Program NFP instruction helps a couple identify the Any married couple can use NFP! A woman need not United States Conference of Catholic Bishops most opportune time to achieve as well as have “regular” cycles. The key to the successful use of 3211 4th St., N.E., avoid pregnancy. Understanding that NFP is cooperation and communication between hus- Washington, D.C. 20017 band and wife—a shared commitment. NFP is unique 202-541-3240 intercourse or genital contact during the fertile 202-541-3176 FAX time can result in pregnancy, couples using among the methods of family planning because it E-mail: [email protected] the natural methods must be clear regarding enables its users to work with the body rather than Text taken from Natural Family Planning, their family planning intention—that is, do against it. Fertility is viewed as a reality to live, not a USCCB Publication #9521. Used with permission. they wish to achieve or avoid a pregnancy? problem to be solved. If a couple wishes to achieve pregnancy, they have intercourse during the 2013 Natural Family Planning - N.W. Ohio Regional Contacts fertile time. If a couple wishes to avoid These couples are trained and certified by the Couple to Couple League, Cincinnati, Ohio. They offer NFP classes and are willing to receive referrals for private instruction. If further information is needed, please contact any of pregnancy, they abstain from intercourse and the listed teaching couples. Register for classes at www.ccli.org. If you are not from this area, this site will al- any genital contact during the fertile time. No low you to search for teaching couples anywhere in the country. For couples who are not near a Couple to Couple artificial methods are used during the fertile League Teaching Couple and engaged couples who are not near each other, "virtual classes" are also available at time. These would interfere with a woman’s www.ccli.org. observation of her fertility signs. Galion Bowling Green Nicholas & Beth Phillips Swanton Ronald & Mary Jo Gillen What are the signs of fertility? Jim & Linda Kettinger 419-468-4457 419-354-3134 [email protected] 419-825-1846 A woman’s body provides three basic ways to [email protected] [email protected] identify the fertile and infertile times of her Huron cycle. Recognizing the pattern of those Crestline Roger & Patricia Frey Tiffin physical signs forms the basis for all methods Sean & Laura Beeson 419-433-6352 or 419-602-0285 Glen & Mary Ann Reinhart of NFP. 419-569-5354 [email protected] 419-595-3055 A primary sign of fertility is the mucus [email protected] [email protected] Kalida-Putnam County released from the woman’s cervix. A woman or [email protected] Donald & Cindy Rall Toledo learns to identify the normal, healthy cervical Dennis & Rachel Rall 419-532-2565 Erik & Sarah Olson mucus that indicates the days that intercourse is 419-683-2865 [email protected] 419-340-0525 most likely to result in pregnancy. The second [email protected] [email protected] sign is her basal body temperature. Due to Mt. Cory- Hancock County Ryan & Jessica Rahrig hormonal activity, a woman’s resting Defiance Van Wert (734) 344-2871 Matthew & Jennifer Schrader temperature changes during the menstrual Steven & Barbara Coolman [email protected] 419-495-2331 cycle. Lower temperatures indicate that 419-658-2206 [email protected] [email protected] ovulation has not yet occurred. Higher Norwalk temperatures indicate a rise in progesterone Paul & Monica Depinet Creighton NFP Model (Tiffin) Delphos 419-660-0534 that signals the end of the fertile time. The Patricia Cress, RN, BA, FCP Jeff & Bridget Bockey [email protected] third sign is a change in the shape or texture of 419-233-1600 419-448-0445 [email protected] the cervix. Finally, secondary signs, such as [email protected] Oak Harbor minor abdominal pain or pressure at the time of Justin & Kassandra Combs ovulation can also be observed. 419-898-0387 [email protected]