Catholic Medical Quarterly Volume 70(2) May 2020

Benefits of Natural Family Planning (NFP)

FamilyThe National Association of Natural Family Planning Teachers sent us these testimonials on NFP. Which we feel are worth reflecting on. They sit alongside many more such evaluations of the benefits of NFP.

Kayliesha 20, Bahamas writes:

FAM (Fertility Awareness Method) has changed my life drastically. I literally FEEL healthier now that I'm not on hormonal birth control. No more random headaches, yeasts infections, unexplainable random sharp pains, mood swings and a low sex drive that affected my relationship with my fiancé. If anything, I feel like FAM has made us closer. I am very grateful that I learned about FAM and that I will continue learning, practicing and growing. I've only been practicing FAM now for a few short months and it's already done a 360 in my life. I no longer fear long or short-term side effects of hormonal birth control and I'm so glad that I came to the realization that I really and truly do not NEED it

Jordan (24) writes:

A friend introduced me to the Fertility Awareness Method when I was 20, a few months before I was going to be getting married. Now I couldn't imagine not knowing what I do about my body! It has helped me realize that I don't fit into the perfect 28 day cycles, but that I still have very regular and predictable cycles. I have been able to find insight through avoiding pregnancy, struggling with infertility, finally conceiving and walking through postpartum. FAM has given me the confidence not to let my doctor put my on hormones to "fix" my endometriosis, but pursue other opinions from experienced doctors. Simply put, my life would be so different if I had not been exposed to FAM 4 years ago!

Nurit (20), is on cycle 38 TTA and she writes from Israel:

Disrupting a healthy cycle with artificial hormones, never appealed to me. I googled "natural birth control", thinking I would find some herbal recipes you shouldn't trust. Instead I found the sympto thermal method of fertility charting and it BLEW MY MIND! I have always read my biology school books cover to cover even before the school year started. I had many physiology and endocrinology courses in college and I have never heard of the option before. I always thought my period was just naturally late every month (33-35 day cycles). FAM has become a passion of mine. I have decided to become certified in teaching it. I have found awesome new friends through the internet, who share the same enthusiasm. I love that I don't have to cancel out my fertility. I feel that it is handled with care and respect, also by my partner. It opens up a dialog around my cycle and our intimacy, which benefits us greatly.