Fertility Awareness
Witness to Love promotes Fertility Awareness as integral to receiving and living the good news of God’s plan for married love. These carefully curated resources will help you learn more about Natural Family Planning and be equipped and encouraged to discuss these topics together as a couple and with those who are accompanying you. Ready to find the course that's right for you? See our resources below!
What is Natural Family Planning?
No longer “guess work,” Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an effective, scientifically based method of family planning that treats fertility as a normal, healthy process. It only takes seconds a day for a woman to track her fertility; then the couple interprets the chart and makes a decision based on their family planning intention.
Does it Work?
Natural Family Planning is highly effective for couples who are avoiding or achieving a pregnancy. Couples who are taught well, understand the method, and consistently follow the directives for avoiding pregnancy will experience a 98 to 99.9 % effectiveness rate. Couples seeking to conceive will understand the best times to try and acquire crucial data on possible imbalances affecting fertility.
Who Can Use Natural Family Planning?
- Couples who want to share responsibility for family planning
- Couples who are avoiding a pregnancy
- Couples who are trying to achieve a pregnancy
- Women who want to understand their menstrual cycle
- Women during all phases of their reproductive life: typical, long, or short cycles, after childbirth and discontinuation of hormonal contraception, while breastfeeding, and during pre-menopause
What Are the Benefits?
- Low cost
- No harmful side effects
- Highly effective for avoiding or achieving a pregnancy
- Promotes communication and intimacy
- Morally acceptable by all religious faiths
- Self understanding
- Appreciation of fertility and children
- Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person
Resources
-
Downloadable Resources
Witness to Love Natural Family Planning
Understand how the Church invites couples to “Responsible Parenthood” while remaining faithful to the promises they have made to one another.
-
External Resources
USCCB NFP Overview
What is natural family planning?
Fertility Awareness Database
Practical resources to help women and couples understand their options of care related to their fertility and to find support in the practice.
Theology of the Body Institute
Community of men and women who are learning, living, and sharing Saint John Paul II’s Theology of the Body.
Jason Evert
Jason Evert presents the case against contraception and for Natural Family Planning.
Chastity Project
Dating, sexual purity, marriage, and more.
-
Courses
Natural Womanhood
The first step to learning a fertility awareness method (FAM) is to choose a method.
USCCB NFP
Find an NFP Class
-
Podcasts
Charting Toward Intimacy- Sexual Intimacy and Fertility Podcast
"Looking for answers to the questions you don't want to Google? Not sure where to get help when your sexual life is on the rocks and everything the secular culture has to offer is only making things worse? Welcome to Charting Toward Intimacy where you learn to actually enjoy and desire good, holy sex with your spouse. Hosted by Ellen Holloway, Catholic Sex and Intimacy Coach."
Lust is Boring
About Natural Family Planning
Natural Family Planning works through periodic abstinence during the method-defined fertile time for couples who are avoiding a pregnancy. NFP can be used effectively throughout a woman’s entire reproductive life. Regular cycles are NOT required and NFP is NOT Calendar Rhythm.
See the resources above to help you and your beloved on this journey toward intimacy! Are you a leader seeking to support couples in their Fertility Awareness journey? Take our Fertility Awareness Course for Leaders!