Natural Family Planning
There are several methods of natural family planning, or NFP, that help prevent (or promote) pregnancy. Being aware of our bodies and fertility are the most accurate and effective natural family planning methods that couples can use. Becoming familiar with the signs and symptoms of the various phases in our fertility cycles can help us plan and space pregnancies, avoid pregnancy without using hormones, barriers, or other methods, as well as simply be in tune with our bodies. NFP methods are very effective, but they do require training and careful execution of the “rules.”
This is a great informational video:
Daysy Lady-Comp
The Daysy Lady-Comp is a unique tool to help you track your cycles and determine when you are fertile or infertile. One of my daughters used this to track her fertility for the first few years of her marriage. She loved it, and so I recommend it based on her experience.
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Various Methods of Natural Family Planning:
The Billings Ovulation Method of natural family planning combines awareness of cervical mucous, cervical os, and other signs of ovulation, temperature, and calendar to provide a wholistic awareness of the fertility cycle. I can personally vouch for this method, as it is what my husband and I used when we were trying to avoid pregnancy. We do have eight children, but not because the method failed. When carefully followed, it is more effective than hormonal or barrier methods! Read more at billings.life.
The Marquette Method The Marquette Method uses a combination of sympto-thermal observation, along with a fertility monitor (Clear Blue) to determine phases of the fertility cycle. I have heard from several folks who swear by this method. Their website says it is a “Science based and researched based, professionally taught modern method of NFP.”
Read more about the Marquette Method at marquette.edu.
The Couple to Couple League Method is another excellent method of NFP. It is a sympto-thermal based method, which divides the fertility cycle into three phases.
Read more about Couple to Couple League at CCLI.org
The Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System (CrMS) is basically a modification of the Billings Ovulation Method, led by, research, education and service (triangle of service).
Read more about the Creighton Model at creightonmodel.com.
Fertility Friend is a great online resource with lots of education on NFP, online charting and tracking, and more. They also have a free phone app for iPhones and Androids. Check out their site at fertilityfriend.com
