Natural Family Planning (NFP)

Natural Family Planning is an educational program that helps couples plan the size of their families. It teaches them to observe, record and interpret female body changes related to ovulation. With this knowledge, couples can identify the fertile and infertile phases in the woman’s menstrual cycle.

Effective Method:

Today’s Natural Family Planning methods are accurate and precise. They have been developed by medical researchers who have a comprehensive understanding of human biology and fertility. These fertility awareness methods use the daily observation of signs and symptoms reflecting the hormonal changes within a woman’s menstrual cycle. By learning to interpret these signals, couples can avoid, postpone or achieve pregnancy.

Women can use Natural Family Planning during their entire fertile years. These methods work for women with irregular as well as regular menstrual cycles, after childbirth, during breast-feeding and nearing menopause.

Supporting Natural Family Planning:

The Office of Marriage & Family Life is committed to providing parishes with support and resources to promote Natural Family Planning.

• Provide parishes with NFP brochures with contact information for certified teachers
• Support Certified NFP teachers with enrichment and advertisement
• Assist parishes with Natural Family Planning Week
• Provide parishes with a NFP DVD at no charge for their couples to view
• Connect NFP teachers with parishes
• Online Resource

Methods Practiced in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:

• Billings Ovulation Method Association-USA
• Sympto Thermal Method Couple to Couple League International
• Ovulation Method Family of the Americas Foundation
• Creighton Model Fertility Care System Centers of America
• Marquette Model, Marquette University Institute of NFP

More Information

• Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction
• WOOMB International

More information on NFP at USCCB

Resources:

• DVD: Plan your Family Naturally: An Introduction to Natural Family Planning (DVD): For more information please contact Candy Metoyer at cmetoyer@la-archdiocese.org or (213) 637-7250
• DVD: NFP video series, “Marital Love and Responsible Parenthood” by Goya Productions is now available in English and in Spanish here.
• Pamphlet: NFP Natural Family Planning: Publication #C9521, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; nfp@usccb.org
• Booklet: An Introduction to Natural Family Planning: Publication #C9921; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• Married Love and the Gift of Life: US Bishop Statement on God’s Wonderful Plan for Marriage 5-787
• Brochure: Natural Family Planning: Love, Mercy, Life #C1626