 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
 |
|||||
     
|
|
|
July 6, 2009 • VOL. 47, NO. 13 • Oakland, CA | ||
| Natural
Family Planning, way to responsible parenthood Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an umbrella term for
different methods used to either achieve or avoid pregnancies. They are
based on observation of naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the
fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle. They
should not be confused with the “rhythm method,” which was
essentially abandoned in the 1960s.
NFP involves the whole person (physical, emotional, and spiritual) to make decisions about responsible parenthood. The couple take into account their fertility, emotions, and family planning intentions (whether to have a baby or not) in making these decisions. Successful use of NFP requires a couple to communicate and share responsibility for family planning by following what they know about both the method and each other. In many couples both wife and husband gain a greater understanding of the wife’s fertility cycle, a greater respect for each other, and better communication as they are encouraged to speak openly to each other about their sexual desires and their ideas on family size. The Church teaches in “Humanae Vitae” that “the transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator. It has always been a source of great joy to them, even though it sometimes entails many difficulties and hardships.” Couples are to make decisions about their family size with full awareness of the “obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood,” including their responsibilities to each other, to their family, to society, and to God. Common concerns about NFP It’s not as reliable as the Pill. Commonly used methods of contraception (the Pill, condoms, etc) have a 98-99 percent success rate when used perfectly. NFP also has a 99 percent success rate, or even slightly better, when used correctly, according to R. Hatcher in “Contraceptive Technology.” User rates (what couples actually using the methods experience) for all methods of fertility regulation vary widely. Again, studies show that NFP has comparable rates of success to contraceptive methods. NFP is too old-fashioned; it’s the rhythm method, it’s ‘Catholic roulette’ The rhythm method was developed in the 1930s and promoted in the 1950s. Modern methods were developed in the 1960s. The rhythm method has been out-of-date for 50 years.Modern NFP methods use a great deal of what is currently known about human reproductive physiology, endocrinology, and more. And they are updated daily, and personalized for each individual user. The abstinence is too difficult – it isn’t worth it. The only formal study done to date (Joseph Tortorici, “Conception Regulation, Self-esteem, and Marital Satisfaction among Catholic Couples: Michigan State University Study,” International Review of Natural Family Planning, 1979) showed that couples who practice NFP have higher self-esteem and higher rates of marital satisfaction” than couples using other means to regulate fertility. NFP seems to be marriage insurance for practicing couples. Of 1000 NFP teaching couples in California over the last 20 years, there have been 15 divorces – a 1.5 percent rate. It is also reported that many couples using NFP experience a honeymoon effect. The periodic abstinence has the effect of requiring them to find creative ways to express their love for each other. As one couple put it, “Abstinence makes the heart grow fonder, and helps keep love fresh.” It’s too difficult to learn. Some methods (such as ecological breast feeding) require no study at all. Others have been successfully been taught to illiterate groups in Third-World countries. NFP is just Catholic contraception – it’s just a different method from the Pill. Couples who use NFP and those who contracept may have the same end (avoiding conception at a given time), but their means of doing so are completely different. For any contracepting couple who says there is no difference – we suggest trying NFP. If there truly is little difference, it should not be a difficult switch. Are there any advantages to NFP? Plenty. • It’s totally natural. It works by understanding and interpreting the natural signs of the body. The Pill, on the other hand, is a steroid and has potentially serious, even life-threatening, side effects (read the warning label!). • It promotes communication and respect between husband and wife – which means it can help strengthen a marriage • It’s low-cost (almost free after the initial training) • It can be used to help conceive a child (30-40 percent of all couples have fertility difficulties) • It can be used to detect up to 30 percent of common gynecological health issues The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops celebrates NFP Awareness week annually, this year from July 19-25. More information is available at www.usccb.org/prolife/issues/nfp/ (Ed Hopfner is the diocesan coordinator of marriage and family life. He can be reached at EHopfner@oakdiocese.org or by calling 510-267-8392.) back to top 
|
|||||
| Copyright © 2008 The Catholic Voice, All Rights Reserved. Site design by Sarah Kalmon-Bauer. |
