What Is NFP? The Wonder of Natural Family Planning
The love shared between spouses mirrors the divine love within the Trinity and has the potential to create new life. 6 Research typically cites failure rates for “perfect use” as, 1-3% and for “imperfect-use” as, 10-15%. These failure rates are based on number of pregnancies among 100 couples in one year. 2 The Sympto-Thermal methods were developed in the late 1940s-early 1950s.
How do you use fertility awareness?
The reason that this phase is six days is because sperm can live for five days in a good environment that is produced by cervical mucus. The two most fertile days of this phase are the two days before ovulation. The first phase of a woman’s cycle begins on the first day of her period (menstruation) and ends on the day of ovulation.
People may choose NFP for religious or personal reasons, or because they are concerned about the side effects of artificial means to achieve or avoid a pregnancy. NFP is not a contraceptive, it does nothing to suppress or block conception. Instead, couples adjust their behavior according to their family planning intention (that is, whether they hope to achieve or avoid a pregnancy) using the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a general term for certain methods that are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. NFP methods are used to both achieve as well as avoid pregnancy.
Sympto-Thermal Methods emphasize the relationship between at least two of the primary signs of fertility (for many, this is the BBT and the change in cervical mucus, see Figure 2). Whichever two primary signs first support each other, it is very important to make accurate observations, record them carefully, identify Peak Day correctly, and confirm the beginning of the infertile time. A symptohormonal method of NFP developed at Marquette University uses the ClearBlue Easy fertility monitor and cycle history to determine the fertile window.[58] The monitor measures estrogen and LH to determine the peak day. When fertility awareness is used correctly and consistently, it may reach rates of effectiveness around 90%. The effectiveness depends on your diligence understanding gaap vs non to track and record your fertility pattern and your commitment to abstain from sexual intercourse or use a barrier form of birth control during your fertility window.
A high temperature level sustained for 18‑20 days past Peak Day, confirms that conception has taken place. Knowing the exact time of conception assists physicians in determining the due date of the baby rather than guessing based on ambiguous data. The beginning of the cervical mucus symptom is the beginning of the potentially fertile phase. In the pre-ovulatory phase, the increase in estrogen levels affect cervical mucus.
The increase in temperature is the sign that ovulation has just occurred. BBT by itself isn’t a good way to prevent pregnancy, because charting your temperature tells you when ovulation has already happened. Your temperature can rise between 0.5 and 1 degree when you ovulate and stay there until your next period. With this method, you take your temperature before you get out of bed each morning, before you have anything to eat or drink. Usually, the ovaries release an egg at about the same time each month. The egg moves through the fallopian tubes toward the uterus.
Lactational Amenorrhea Method (LAM)
Natural family planning (NFP) is a form of pregnancy planning. NFP helps people observe their body’s fertility signs to know when to have sexual intercourse. It can be used if you are trying to achieve or avoid pregnancy. It involves keeping track of a person’s bodily changes throughout the menstrual cycle.
- The higher elevated temperature signals the end of the fertile time.An additional sign is a change in the shape or texture of the cervix itself.
- The most important of these is how NFP promotes closeness between married couples.
- For 1,900 years, all Christian denominations stood united in their condemnation of contraception.
- Menstruation is a potentially fertile time since a woman can ovulate early in any cycle.
Today, the BOM continues to be the most popular CMM world-wide. Other approaches to CMMs exist such as the Creighton Model FertilityCare Method, developed by Dr. Thomas Hilgers (USA). After ovulation has occurred, the woman’s body releases another hormone called progesterone. It elevates the woman’s body temperature about tenths of a degree Fahrenheit and can be detected by taking daily waking temperatures. Progesterone also prepares the lining of the uterus for possible implantation of a new life.
As estrogen increases the cervical crypts are stimulated to produce mucus that is thin, clear, and lubricative. The last day of this type of mucus followed by a definite change is Peak Day. Ovulation will occur on or around Peak, after which the mucus changes back to a thicker and sticky texture (see Figure 2). After ovulation, estrogen levels start to drop off, progesterone levels increase, and the cervical mucus becomes sticky and cloudy again and/or dry (see Figure 2). The fertile phase is from the beginning of the changing mucus pattern until three full days past the Peak. Most Catholic married couples in developed countries have only one or two children.
Birth control
The basal body temperature (BBT) is the waking temperature of a woman’s body after she has had at least six hours of sleep. The role of the BBT in this method is to support and confirm the mucus sign and identify that ovulation has taken place. The BBT is taken at approximately the same time each day under the same conditions. During the pre-ovulatory phase, it remains at a low level. It is only after ovulation has taken place that a significant rise in the temperature can be seen (see Figure 3).
Those who are strongly motivated to avoid pregnancy and follow the method strictly are very effective in meeting their goal. The time of the six-day fertile window can vary from cycle to cycle. Women can track this variation by monitoring her cervical mucus changes and/or by using hormonal fertility monitors that measure the rise in estrogen and the LH surge. A married couple can engage in marital intimacy during the naturally infertile times in a woman’s cycle, or after child-bearing years, without violating the meaning of marital intercourse in any way. The most complex and reliable method of natural family planning is the sympto-thermal method.
Most people know that the inside of the uterus must be built up with nutrient-rich endometrium cells to sustain a pregnancy; however, few people know the unique responsibility of the base of the uterus (cervix). The cervix is lined with mucus-producing cells that are stimulated by estrogen (see Figure 1). When produced, cervical mucus will neutralize the acidic nature of the vagina allowing the sperm to survive and move up through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes. When couples use contraception, either physical or chemical, they suppress their fertility, asserting that they alone have ultimate control over this power to create a new human life. They may choose to refrain from sexual union during the woman’s fertile time, doing nothing to destroy the love-giving or life-giving meaning that is present.
NFP can be hard if you have abnormal menstrual cycles or are breastfeeding. It is also worth noting that other methods of birth control (pills, condoms, an intrauterine device), when used as directed, tend to offer more protection against pregnancy than NFP. This is similar to the rhythm method but designates a covers a longer period of fertility. The standard days method assumes fertility on days 8 through 19 of every menstrual cycle. This means that to prevent pregnancy, you would not have sexual intercourse on these days.
The following descriptions of these four methods are merely summaries of the similarities and contrasts between them. Anyone who desires more detailed information on any of the methods should consult one of the national or local natural family planning teaching groups, which have experts all over the country who can help. You might also consider contacting your local Catholic diocesan or archdiocesan office, many of which have NFP teaching programs of their own. Natural family planning may be an appealing birth control option if you can’t or choose not to use other contraceptives.
The length of pre-ovulation can change from cycle to cycle in the same woman. For example, a woman might ovulate (release an egg) on day 13 in one cycle and in the next cycle ovulate on day 10. Many reasons account for variations during this time, including post-hormonal contraception, breastfeeding, and perimenopause. Research also reveals that find a tax preparer factors such as weight loss, emotional stress (good or bad), illness, and even diet can affect the time of ovulation. Despite this, the time of fertility can be known by a woman because her body produces signs that help her identify when her fertility begins, when it peaks, and when her fertility ends.