Natural Family Planning Works Fertility Awareness Empowers Women

“Why didn’t I know about this sooner?”

This is often the first thing I hear couples say after they learn about the beauty of their God-given fertility through Natural Family Planning (NFP).

NFP is a fully pro-life method of avoiding and achieving pregnancy that works with your body rather than against it. It is more than an alternative to artificial birth control—it is a way of life that aligns with natural law and the Christian view of personhood.

NFP respects the natural design of the marital act, recognizing its twofold purpose: procreation and unity.

Unlike hormonal contraceptives and intrauterine devices (IUDs), which can act as abortifacients, NFP works in harmony with the body’s natural cycles.

Even barrier methods, such as condoms and withdrawal, interfere with the intrinsic meaning of sexual intimacy. The biblical account of Onan in Genesis 38:9-10 serves as an example of divine condemnation for interrupting the nature of the marital act.

A Cultural Shift: Recognizing the Value of Life

Modern culture has largely separated sex from its procreative purpose, treating it primarily as a source of pleasure. Contraception leads to an abortion mindset; it has taken babies away from the purpose of sex and turned them into commodities. Babies become an inconvenience when we don’t want them and are owed to us when we do. Contraception has facilitated a mindset where the creation of life is treated as an optional byproduct rather than a sacred gift.

NFP, in contrast, upholds the dignity of human life by acknowledging fertility as a natural and valuable aspect of the marital relationship. By utilizing a woman’s cycle to make informed decisions, NFP allows couples to embrace or postpone pregnancy in a way that fully respects the integrity of sexual intercourse.

A Pro-Life Decision and Path to Virtue

NFP is not just guesswork; it is a process of discernment involving prudence and sacrificial love. Living out NFP fosters a pro-life mindset that nurtures virtue within the family by focusing on the good of the other.

A couple using NFP recognizes the profound gift of human life. While God calls us to “Be fruitful and multiply,” He also invites us to responsible parenthood. By using NFP to delay pregnancy, couples can respond to life’s circumstances while remaining open to the possibility of the gift of new life.

Each month, during times of fertility, couples practicing NFP recognize their ability to co-create with God. This approach fosters communication, self-control, and mutual respect. NFP involves either full participation in the marital act or periodic abstinence—never interfering with the natural process.

Switching to NFP: Yes, You Can Do Hard Things
Coming off contraception can feel intimidating—especially when the world around you insists Natural Family Planning doesn’t work (even though the science says otherwise).

You might be the first in your friend group to try NFP. Maybe they’re even placing bets on how long it’ll take you to get pregnant. That’s real—and it’s scary. It can feel like you’re swimming upstream. But here’s the truth: doing hard things pays off. And using NFP? Totally worth it.

Speaking from personal experience, after nearly 20 years of using NFP, we won all the bets. And those same friends who once made bets? They now come to me, asking how to get started.

That first step may be the hardest. But when you step out in faith, know this: science is on your side. And you won’t be walking alone—there are healthcare professionals and NFP instructors ready to walk with you.

You can do hard things. And this one? It’s worth it.

Learning NFP: Charting for a Lifetime of Health
Ideally, women should track their menstrual cycles from their first period to their last—from menarche to menopause.

Natural Family Planning (NFP) involves identifying the three main phases of the menstrual cycle:

• Follicular phase (before ovulation)
• Ovulatory phase (around ovulation)
• Luteal phase (after ovulation)

These phases are tracked by observing biomarkers of fertility—physical signs like bleeding patterns, cervical fluid changes, basal body temperature, and urinary hormone levels.

Using these biomarkers, the couple can apply rules to a method of NFP to determine the fertile window — the time of the cycle when the couple can conceive.

When choosing an NFP method, it’s important to select one that is supported by scientific research and to learn from a certified instructor. For a helpful comparison, see the chart of methods below with published effectiveness data.

Among the available options, the Marquette Method stands out for its strong research foundation and its use of medical professionals as instructors. To find a certified instructor, visit the Marquette directory or contact the author, Sara Flood.

Beyond Family Planning, Fertility Awareness

Being pro-life means being pro-woman, which is another way that NFP aligns with pro-life values. Whether you call it “fertility awareness,” “cycle tracking,” or “Natural Family Planning (NFP),” charting menstrual cycles helps women gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and design of their bodies by better understanding their reproductive health.

Many people do not know this, but irregularities in a woman’s cycle often signal an underlying problem. Too often, women are prescribed the pill to “regulate” cycles rather than addressing the root causes. Left unaddressed, these issues can contribute to infertility and may eventually even lead couples toward IVF or other assistive reproductive technologies.

I recently met with a couple shortly after the birth of their first child. Years earlier, I had worked with the woman when her menstrual cycles were infrequent and irregular, and she was able to proactively address issues that may have led to infertility rather than suppress those important symptoms with contraception.

After learning NFP, she sought care through a restorative reproductive approach—one that works with the body’s natural functions rather than suppressing them with hormonal contraception. By charting her cycles with NFP and addressing the root causes of her irregularities, she was able to conceive as soon as they desired.

Natural Family Planning empowers women with knowledge, couples with options, and healthcare providers with essential information for personalized, holistic care. From the health benefits to the sound Christian principles, it is time for the pro-life movement to embrace NFP. Think about it.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~Philippians 4:8 NIV