Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for various methods of charting a woman’s natural signs of fertility to track her menstrual cycle and, within marriage, to help couples achieve or postpone pregnancy.
NFP methods can be inexpensive, become a normal part of a couple’s daily routine, and assist the woman in general health awareness. NFP helps women and couples learn more about her cycle, general health, and fertility, without altering the body’s natural rhythm.
The methods of NFP represent authentic family planning because they respect the nature of sexual intercourse as God made it – to be love-giving and life-giving. NFP methods promote respect between husband and wife, openness to human life and recognize the value of children. When practiced well, NFP methods can help to enrich the bond between husband and wife. As holistic family planning that works with nature, the methods of NFP are acceptable for people of various religious and philosophical beliefs.
NFP Methods
Marquette Method
The Marquette Model brings 21st-century technology to NFP by using urine fertility biomarkers collected at home that measure hormone levels. These biomarkers can be used in conjunction with cervical mucus or basal body temperature and an algorithm to confidently determine the woman’s fertile window.
All Marquette instructors are required to be healthcare professionals and study under the Institute for Natural Family Planning at Marquette University.
FEMM
FEMM is a comprehensive women’s health program that teaches women to understand their bodies, as well as hormonal and other vital signs of health. FEMM recognizes that the health of a woman’s monthly cycle is an important part of her overall health. By educating women, FEMM empowers them to identify signs of health or potential issues so that they can seek the treatment they need as early as possible. Through its medical management programs, FEMM provides accurate testing and treatment based on research and medical protocols.
Cycle tracking can be done on the free FEMM app and one-on-one classes are available.
Sympto-Thermal Method
Sympto-Thermal Method is based on changes in a woman’s cervical mucus, waking or resting temperature, and cervix. These observable signs change in response to the hormones of the menstrual cycle. Then the couple interprets the chart and makes a decision based on their family planning intentions.
Billings Method
The Billings Method focuses on determining fertile and infertile days based on a woman’s observations of her cervical mucus or fluid.
Creighton Method
The Creighton Model relies upon observation and charting of biological markers of a woman’s health and fertility to tell the couple when they are naturally fertile and infertile. This system allows the couple to achieve or to avoid pregnancy.
