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Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Discover the natural way to postpone or achieve pregnancy -- a modern method of Natural Family Planning (NFP) proven to be 99% effective in postponing pregnancy, and a method also used with considerable success by couples trying to conceive even when they have previously had difficulty achieving pregnancy.
Natural Family Planning is based on an awareness of a woman's fertility. You will learn to interpret certain signs in your body that indicate your fertile and infertile times. You will also learn about ecological breastfeeding -- the only kind that can give you a time of extended infertility following childbirth.
As you learn NFP, you will be making your observations and charting. With the Sympto-Thermal Method, it takes just one minute each monring to take your waking temperature, plus a few moments for observing cervical mucus throughout the day. Once you chart these things, you have a complete cross-checking picture of your fertility. It's very simple!
The advantages of Natural Family Planning
Medically safe. Because NFP is 100% natural, it is 100% safe and has no health risks. It involves no harmful drugs or devices.
Increased health awareness. Because NFP teaches you to become aware of your normal fertility pattern, changes in this pattern can alert you to possible medical problems.
Effective. It is 99% effective in postponing pregnancy -- the same effectiveness range as the pill or Norplant, and is more effective than devices, creams and other unnatural methods.
Low cost. NFP costs significantly less than other forms of birth regulation. Once you learn it, there are no continuing costs.
Immediately reversible. You just change your timing. There is no waiting period. And tehre is no damage to your fertility as can happen with unnatural methods.
More satisfying marriages. Most couples report that NFP has a positive effect on their marriages. They find that periodic abstinence helps keep their relationship fresh, improves their communication, and gives them a deeper respect for each other. Couples also like having a morally consistent message to give their children about sexuality. NFP couples have an extremely low divorce rate. For inner peace and family happiness, you want God in your heart and in your marriage.
Morally acceptable. along with other religious bodies, the Catholic Church accepts the use of NFP by married couples when there is a good reason to postpone pregnancy, unlike unnatural methdos which are deemed immoral.
Not the Rythm Method. Modern NFP is not the Rhythm Method, which was developed in 1930 and was based on some biological averages but it did not work well for women who had irregular cycles. NFP does not rely on regularity of cycles. NFP assumes that every woman is irregular at least some of the time, so NFP can still be used effectively by a woman who has irregular cycle.
NFP can help less-fertile couples achive pregnancy. After learning NFP, you will become aware of the most fertile days of your cycle, allowing you to maximize your mutual fertility. In addition, your charted cycles may reveal certain patterns taht can reduce fertility that you may be able to correct by better health practices. NFP helps many low-fertility couples to achieve pregnancy. If you should need medical assistance, NFP charts can provide valuable information to a knowledgeable physician.
There are two ways to receive the NFP classes:
- Catholic Charities of Orange :714.347.9620
- Couple to Couple League (CCL) -- four classes spaced a month apart. If you cannot attend classes, you may order the Home Study Course at (800) 745-8252. Locally, call Andrea & Cliff Rousseve of the CCL at (714) 963-4996. Or to find a local Teaching Couple, visit www.ccli.org or call (513) 471-2000 or email ccli@ccli.org.