Why We Love Natural Family Planning

Summary

In this video, Jackie and Bobby discuss the Catholic Church’s teachings on Natural Family Planning (NFP) as a morally acceptable alternative to contraception. They explain that NFP involves observing and understanding fertility signals, which helps couples avoid or achieve pregnancy while respecting the body’s natural rhythms. Unlike contraceptives, NFP encourages openness to life and deeper communication between spouses. While it presents challenges, such as abstaining during fertile periods, it fosters greater intimacy, spiritual well-being, and health awareness. The speakers also highlight studies showing NFP’s positive impact on marriage stability and the empowerment of understanding one’s body.

Takeaways

• 😀 NFP (Natural Family Planning) is a Catholic-approved method of birth regulation, distinct from contraception, that respects the body and encourages authentic freedom.
• 😀 NFP involves observing the body's signs of fertility, such as cervical mucus, temperature, and cervix position, to determine fertile and infertile periods.
• 😀 NFP can be used for both avoiding and achieving pregnancy, with a high success rate when used correctly (e.g., Creighton Model has a 99.8% effectiveness in avoiding pregnancy).
• 😀 Using NFP helps women monitor their health and fertility, offering insights into conditions like PCOS, endometriosis, or hormonal imbalances.
• 😀 NFP fosters a deeper understanding of a woman's body, including emotional and physical changes, which improves communication and intimacy between partners.
• 😀 NFP is different from contraception because it does not block or prevent life; rather, it respects the natural fertility cycle while allowing couples to cooperate with God’s plan.
• 😀 The method of NFP encourages self-control and abstinence during fertile periods, which brings couples closer through shared commitment and mutual understanding.
• 😀 Studies show that couples using NFP report lower divorce rates (53% less likely to divorce) and higher levels of spiritual well-being and intimacy.
• 😀 NFP promotes deeper intimacy by fostering communication and helping couples find ways to be intimate beyond just sexual relations.
• 😀 Learning and practicing NFP empowers both men and women by teaching them about their bodies and offering alternatives to synthetic contraception methods like birth control pills or IUDs.

Q & A

What is Natural Family Planning (NFP)?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a method of birth regulation based on observing the body's natural signs, like cervical mucus, temperature, and other fertility indicators. It is different from contraception as it respects the body's natural cycles and does not interfere with fertility through artificial means.

How does NFP differ from contraception?

NFP differs from contraception in its method. Contraception prevents conception intentionally, whereas NFP works by identifying fertile and infertile periods to help couples decide when to engage in sexual activity, always remaining open to life.

What does the Catechism of the Catholic Church say about NFP?

According to the Catechism (2370), NFP is a morally acceptable form of birth regulation because it is based on self-observation and the use of infertile periods, in line with the objective criteria of morality, and respects the bodies of the spouses.

What are the different types of NFP?

There are several methods of NFP, including the Creighton Model, the Billings Model, the Sympto-Thermal Method, and the Marquette Method. These methods focus on different fertility signs such as cervical mucus, temperature, and the position of the cervix.

How effective is NFP at avoiding pregnancy?

When used correctly, NFP is highly effective, with some methods like the Creighton Model showing a 99.8% success rate in avoiding pregnancy, depending on proper usage and monitoring.

How can NFP help with understanding a woman's health?

NFP can provide insight into a woman's reproductive health, helping to identify conditions like hormonal imbalances, PCOS, or endometriosis. By tracking fertility signs, women can receive more personalized care and avoid the use of synthetic hormones.

What are the benefits of using NFP for both partners?

NFP encourages communication, intimacy, and mutual understanding between partners. It allows both individuals to learn about the woman’s fertility and health, fostering a deeper connection and respect for the body’s natural cycles.

Is NFP just for avoiding pregnancy?

No, NFP can also be used to achieve pregnancy by identifying fertile windows. It is not solely a method for avoiding pregnancy but can be adapted to support a couple’s specific family planning goals.

Why is NFP seen as more natural than contraception?

NFP is considered more natural because it does not involve artificial interventions. It works with the body’s natural fertility rhythms rather than manipulating them through hormones or physical barriers like contraception does.

What is the main challenge of practicing NFP?

The main challenge of NFP is the requirement for self-control and abstinence during fertile periods. It requires ongoing observation and communication between partners to ensure it is used effectively, which can be difficult but is seen as rewarding for those who practice it.