9 Things You Didn’t Know About Natural Family Planning

These daily observations help NFP users pinpoint when they are ovulating – and therefore fertile – so they can either abstain from intercourse during this window if they wish to avoid becoming pregnant or use this time to achieve a pregnancy if that’s the goal.

“Natural Family Planning enables women to work with the naturally occurring cycles of their body, rather than working against them,” says Marilyn Haywood, RN, CFCP, Manager of Natural Family Planning at Franciscan FertilityCare Center in Indianapolis.

“NFP allows women to find out about the beautiful design of their bodies,” Haywood says. “It teaches that fertility is a gift to be appreciated, not a problem to be solved or a disease to be cured.”

Nine Surprising Truths About NFP

1. NFP Is Highly Effective

When practiced correctly to avoid pregnancy, the Creighton Model of Natural Family Planning – which is what is taught at Franciscan FertilityCare Center – is 99.5% effective in preventing pregnancies, according to Haywood. This puts its effectiveness on par with – or better than – other methods of contraception, including hormonal birth control, condoms and IUDs.

2. It’s Not Only For Those With Religious Beliefs

While some couples are drawn to NFP because of their faith, others gravitate to the method to avoid taking hormonal birth control, which can cause side effects such as weight gain, headaches, acne, and mood changes – and sometimes even more serious negative effects – in some women.

3. NFP Supports Women’s Overall Health

“Charting with Creighton can help women not only identify their fertile time but also be aware of any cycle abnormalities that may exist,” says Haywood. Creighton clients have found charting their cycles to be an effective tool in spotting early warning signs of conditions such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or thyroid issues – all of which can sometimes cause irregular menstrual cycles.

4. Natural Family Planning Is Science Based

The Creighton Method of NFP is based on decades of scientific research. Teachers of the method go through 13 months of extensive training and pass a six-hour exam before being qualified to provide instruction. “I am an RN, and I was drawn to the Creighton Model, specifically, because of its science-based approach,” Haywood says.

5. Couples Can Learn Together

Couples sign up for Creighton education – which includes all materials needed and regular visits with Haywood over the course of 12 months – together. NFP encourages commitment and consistency from both partners in a relationship. “Studies show that it strengthens marriages because the husbands are encouraged to be aware of their wives’ cycles, and, in addition, learn other ways to foster their marriage,” Haywood explains.

6. All Women Can Use NFP

Haywood has worked with clients of all ages, from teens through women in perimenopause. Sometimes women may feel they’re not a good candidate for Creighton if their cycles are irregular, but Haywood says that’s not the case. “Everyone can use Creighton,” she says. “If a woman has problematic cycles, then charting helps us get to the root of the problem, instead of just covering it up with hormonal birth control.”

7. No Gadgets Are Necessary

While some methods of NFP, including the Basal Body Temperature Method, may require women to monitor fluctuations in their body temperature using a thermometer or other monitoring equipment, the Creighton Model of NFP does not require any specialized equipment. Women are taught to make external observations before and after using the bathroom or getting in and out of water to check their cervical mucus. Participants are given extensive training on how to observe and note characteristics of their cervical mucus – including whether it’s clear and wet or cloudy and sticky, for example – on charts provided by their practitioners. Certain specific changes in a woman’s mucus alert them that they’re likely ovulating.

8. Charting May Reveal Times Of Stress That Affect Your Cycle

Sometimes, women using NFP – particularly those who try to do it alone using books or online tutorials – may incorrectly interpret their discharge chart and believe they’re ovulating twice per month. What’s more likely, Haywood says, is a “double-peak” that could indicate signs of over-stress. “People who learn Creighton are always so surprised to see the effect stress has on the body,” she says. “When people see a double-peak in their chart, it’s likely because high stress levels blocked ovulation initially and delayed it. The women are still only ovulating once.”

9. Training is Available

Couples interested in learning the Creighton Model of Natural Family Planning work for an entire calendar year with Haywood, with meetings every two weeks for the first couple of months, before becoming less frequent. “After five follow-ups, we find that most couples have the process down pat and are then eligible to use our HIPAA-compliant app if they desire,” she says.

Franciscan FertilityCare Center in Indianapolis is now seeing patients. For more information, call (317) 528-7071 or email franciscanfertilitycarecenter@franciscanalliance.org.