What is Natural Family Planning?

NFP is a general term that refers to various methods that have been developed to help women and men determine the fertile and infertile times of a woman's menstrual cycle. These methods can be used to achieve or avoid a pregnancy.

"NFP helps a woman to learn to work with her body, its natural ebbs and flaw of fertility and infertility. Together, the couple learns to appreciate their fertility as a gift."
- Cynthia Jones-Nosacek M.D.

What are the benefits of NFP?
- NFP is safe and healthy
- NFP enables a couple to increase communication and to better understand their own bodies
- NFP can contribute to greater intimacy, sharing, and spirituality in a relationship

Evidence shoes NFP to be 98-99% effective in avoiding pregnancy when taught by a qualified teacher and correctly applied.

The divorce rate for NFP users is less than 5%.

What are the Various Methods of NFP?

*The Ovulation Method is a system that relies upon the observation of a sign - the discharge of cervical mucus - which changes throughout the woman's cycle, indicating times of fertility.

*The Basal Body Temperature Method uses consistent observations and charting of the woman's waking temperature to determine peak times of fertility.

*The Sympto-Thermal Method
is a combination of the Ovulation and Basal Body Temperature Methods. It involves charting these observations in conjunction with other minor signs such as vulvar sensations and cervical signs to predict fertile days.

Who can use NFP?

-Couples seeking to space or limit pregnancies
- Couples struggling with infertility
- Breastfeeding women
- Peri-menopausal women
- Women with irregular cycles
- Women who are interested in their health

For couples experiencing infertility, 70% achieve pregnancy within one year through teaching and charting alone.

How can you learn more?

NFP Classes are offered year round in northwest Indiana. Cost for instruction in the symptom-thermal method is $75 for 4, 2 hours, monthly classes and follow-up instruction. All materials are included.

Call Natural Family Planning

Instructors -

George and Rosanne Kouris
219-696-1308
rkouris5@hotmail.com

Larry and Sharon Peters
219-924-3854

NFP Only Doctors - Ovulation Method
(Creighton Fertility Care)

Dr. Luis Barajas
Family Practice
Family Life Clinic
7781 E. Ridge Road
Hobart, IN 46342
219-947-0797

Pope Paul VI Institute
6901 Mercy Road
Omaha, NE 68106
402-390-6600
www.popepaulvi.org

*Instruction in Spanish or English

*New medical technologies for help with infertility

"The acts in marriage by which the intimate and chaste union of the spouses takes place are noble and honorable; the truly human performance of these acts fosters the self-giving they signify and enriches the spouses in joy and gratitude."

Sexuality is a source of joy and pleasure...
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (2362)

Benefits of NFP
- Based on scientific fact
- Cooperates with nature's design and treats each menstrual cycle as unique
- Is effective for achieving and avoiding pregnancy
- Can be used throughout the woman's reproductive lifetime
- Has NO harmful side effects
- Economical
- Values children
- Requires mutual responsibility of both husband and wife
- Encourages couple communication
- Fosters respect for and acceptance of total person
- Cooperates with God's design for spouses

Marriage is God's sacred gift of unity, a promise that affirms both love and life. True marital love mirrors God's love for his people - total, faithful, fruitful, and free.