Natural Family Planning - An Alternative to Contraception

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a method of controlling the risk of pregnancy without use of drugs or medical devices. Instead, couples learn to recognize the signs and rhythms of a woman’s cycle, practicing abstinence during periods of fertility. While NFP is not fool proof, properly trained couples can achieve success rates as high as traditional contraception. Documented studies show the average success rate among couples practicing NFP properly at about 88%.

According to the Mayo Clinic, there are several different methods of gauging a woman’s cycle. These methods include basal body temperature, which uses a woman’s early morning body temperature as a gauge; the calendar method, requiring mathematical calculations based on the average length of the menstrual cycle; the cervical mucus method, using observations of mucus discharge throughout the cycle to calculate fertility; the standard days method, similar to the calendar method but only reliable for woman with consistent and predictable cycles; and finally, the symptothermal method which combines several of the other methods in a way that cross-checks them against one another.

Lactational amenorrhea is another method, though technically not used to prevent pregnancy. It is based on the fact that a new mother who is nursing and whose menstrual periods have temporarily ceased does not ovulate during this time. Intimacy can be practiced without risk of pregnancy in most cases, and usually last about three months or so. As soon as the woman begins to exhibit signs of her menstrual periods returning, she is once again able to become pregnant.

Although not widely reported in the mainstream, Natural Family Planning is popular across many segments of society, including those with a religious conviction against contraception and those who prefer to avoid drugs and medical devices whenever possible. There are organizations scattered around the United States that specialize in teaching this method of family planning, some even offering to help monitor new users until they are comfortable doing it on their own. As far as clinics devoted exclusively to this practice, they are few and far between. Most standard family practice clinics do offer information about NFP, but to what extent they offer support depends on the ideology of the clinic operators.

If you are interested in learning more about Natural Family Planning, a simple internet search on the term will yield plentiful results. You can also contact your gynecologist, local maternity ward, or family planning clinic for information about possible support groups in your area.