Natural Family Planning

The Catholic Church supports the methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP) because they respect God's design for married love. In fact, NFP represents the only authentic approach to family planning available to husbands and wives because these methods can be used to both attempt or avoid pregnancy. When learning about NFP, it is important to know that: 

• Natural Family Planning is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve and avoid conception. These methods are based on the observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman's menstrual cycle. Some natural methods include use of fertility monitors to better understand the time of the wife's fertility. Married couples using NFP to postpone conception abstain from intercourse and genital contact during the fertile phase of the wife's cycle. No drugs, devices, or surgical procedures are used to avoid pregnancy. Married couples who use NFP to attempt a pregnancy, make use of the fertile window--the optimum time when conception is likely.
   
• NFP 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. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving natures of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife. (Standards for Diocesan Natural Family Planning Ministry, p. 23)
• Natural Family Planning (USCCB)

• Marquette Method
• Sympto Thermal
• Creighton
•  The Billings Method
• The Family of the Americas Method

• Charting Toward Intimacy: https://vinesinfullbloom.com/
• The Intersect, the Official Podcast of FAbM Base

The following Catholic physicians are trained in reviewing a couple’s chart as a means of evaluating their gynecological health and fertility.  These doctors do not teach couples how to chart NFP. None of these doctors prescribe contraceptives as a method of family planning or as a means of treating health issues.

Pine Ridge Family Medicine
Dr. Rachel Langley, DO, IBCLC
9362 Grand Cordera Parkway, Suite 210
Colorado Springs, CO 80924
719-550-5180
[email protected]
www.pineridgefamilymedicine.com

Integrated OBGYN
Dr. Megan Woodman, OB/GYN
9397 Crown Crest Blvd. Suite #220
Parker, CO 80138
303-721-1670
www.integratedobgyn.com

• Holy Sex! A Catholic Guide to Toe-Curling, Mind-Blowing, Infallible Loving, by Gregory Popcak
• Good News About Sex and Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching, by Christopher West
• By Love Refined: Letters to a Young Bride, by Alice Von Hildebrand
• The Sinner's Guide to NFP, by Simcha Fisher 
• The Infertility Companion for Catholics: Spiritual and Practical Support for Couples, by Angelique Ruhi-López and Carmen Santamaría
• My Peace I Give You: Healing Sexual Wounds with the Help of the Saints  by Dawn Eden​

Church documents:

• ​Humanae vitae 
• Amoris laetitia
• Gaudium et spes (see especially sections 48 and 49)
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (most -specifically this section)

​​NFP resources online:​

• www.managingyourfertility.com - a comprehensive overview of NFP, with links about each common method and how to find instructor
• www.fabmbase.org -  provides practical NFP resources to women and couples, to minimize barriers to understanding their options of care related to their fertility and to find support
• www.foryourmarriage.org/ , articles and other resources sponsored by the USCCB
• www.fabmbase.org/catholic-corner/ - an additional list of helpful resources
• www.canafeast.com/ - Catholic programming designed to support marriages

Battling against pornography:

A basic explanation on the harms of pornography and tips for addressing within a relationship can be found here. The following resources have been developed to aid in recovering from compulsion toward viewing pornography.
•    Integrity Restored
•    Fight the New Drug (including their app, Fortify)
•    Covenant Eyes
•    Accountable to You

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