What is Natural Family Planning?
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid pregnancies. These methods are based on observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. When couples understand NFP methods and are motivated to follow them, NFP is up to 99 percent successful in spacing or limiting births. These methods are not the old methods of the 1940s and 1950s.
Natural Family Planning reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life, and recognizes the value of the child. The best way to learn NFP is from a qualified instructor, who is certified through a NFP teacher-training program.
2018 marked the 50th anniversary of Blessed Pope Paul VI’s encyclical on birth control, Humanae Vitae. Find out more here about this prophetic document and the hope it offers to our world suffering from disrespect for human life, sexuality and fertility.