Fertility Awareness

Additional Resources & FAQs

• 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. NFP 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.

• Does it work?

  It can be highly effective for couples who are avoiding or achieving a pregnancy. Couples who are taught well, understand the method, are clear about their family planning intention, and carefully follow all the rules for avoiding a pregnancy all the time will experience a 98 to 99.9 percent effectiveness rate. Couples who occasionally do not follow all the rules for avoiding a pregnancy will most likely experience a pregnancy rate similar to condoms and other barrier methods of family planning.

• Who can use NFP?

  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 premenopause

• What are the benefits?

  Low cost
  

  No harmful side effects
  

  Highly effective for avoiding or achieving a pregnancy
  

  Marriage enrichment and mutual understanding
  

  Morally acceptable by all religious faiths
  

  Self understanding
  

  Appreciation of fertility and children
  

  Fosters respect for and acceptance of the total person.

• Downloadable Resources

  WTL Natural Family Planning

  Understand how the Church invites couples to “Responsible Parenthood” while remaining faithful to the promises they have made to one another.

  👉 Download

• External Resources

  USCCB NFP Overview

  What is natural family planning?

  👉 Read Now

   

  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.

  👉 Read Now

   

  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.

  👉 Go Now

   

  Jason Evert

  Jason Evert presents the case against contraception and for Natural Family Planning.

  👉 Watch Now

   

  Chastity Project

  Dating, sexual purity, marriage, and more.

  👉 Go Now

• Additional Courses

  Natural Womanhood

  The first step to learning a fertility awareness method (FAM) is to choose a method.

  👉 Go to Course

   

  USCCB NFP

  Find an NFP Class

  👉 Go to Course

• Podcasts

  Charting Toward Intimacy

  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.

  👉 Listen Now

   

  Lust is Boring

  👉 Listen Now