The Effectiveness of Natural Family Planning (NFP)
This week dear Friends, we begin to explore the common concern of couples when they hear of natural family planning. As you read, please stay focused and listen to your heart as the Spirit of Truth and Reason enlightens you!
As Natural Family Planning (NFP) teachers, we are frequently asked “Does NFP work?” Even though the answer to the question is both simple and complex, we can confidently say, “Yes, NFP works!”
- NFP works to help couples postpone (avoid) pregnancy and healthily space their children.
- NFP works to aid couples in timing intercourse to increase their chances of conception (achieve pregnancy).
- NFP works to help couples grow in their love and respect for each other building healthy, happy and harmonious families.
Yet at the same time we answer the question with a simple “YES,” we have to engage other layers to the question. Asking, “Does it work?” is also asking “How effective is NFP in preventing pregnancy in comparison to artificial methods of family planning?” The question also implies, “How does a given method of family planning actually work?” Or, to put it in more technical terms, “What is the method’s mechanism of action?” For example, there are artificial means of family planning that work at times “post fertilization” (abortifacients). This means that, the egg and sperm have met, a new human life has been set in motion, yet the developing embryo is either destroyed or prevented from implanting into the uterus by the hostile intrauterine environment caused by the contraceptive device in use.[1] This is Pregnancy termination or commonly known as abortion – killing of an unborn baby. Killing of any human being as we all know, is against the fifth Commandment. Abortion is also often promoted as part of family planning (artificial).[2] And, though the effectiveness of pregnancy termination is extremely high, it’s mechanism of action is to deliberately kill an unborn human person which is against God’s will – SIN!
Thus, as part of our response to the question “Does it work?” is also answering the question, “How does it work?” And in this regard, we can always be assured that NFP never works “post-fertilization.” It never disrupts a new human life! NFP is a practice that is profoundly respectful of the life and dignity of a woman’s body and the life and dignity of all human persons, born and unborn.
Best wishes and God bless you!
[1] Joseph B. Stanford, MD, MSPHa, Rafael T. Mikolajczyk, MD. Mechanisms of action of intrauterine devices: Update and estimation of postfertilization effects.American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. December 2002, Volume 187, Issue 6, Pages 1699-1708.
[2] WHO, ”Safe Abortion: technical policy and guidelines for health systems” 2012.
