Wishing to Conceive
Using NFP to Conceive Natural Family Planning classes teach couples to understand a woman's fertility cycle. This knowledge can be used to increase the likelihood of conception. Couples of normal fertility usually conceive within 3 months of use. NFP can also help couples suffering from infertility.
Most people know that conception requires the meeting of an egg with a sperm. However, many couples are not aware of the other naturally occurring changes that take place within a woman's body each month and how these changes affect her fertility. Natural Family Planning helps a woman get to know her body so she can distinguish her fertile days from her infertile days. Some women have a very short window of fertility. This is why it is important for couples to learn to recognize the woman's signs of fertility and to record these signs daily on a chart. The NFP chart is also the most accurate way to determine the baby's due date and provides excellent information for spouses and physicians.
For Couples Suffering From Infertility
About 1 in 5 couples suffer from infertility. Infertility indicates that there is an underlying health problem that needs to be resolved. A couple's NFP chart can help physicians diagnose and heal the health problem so the couple can conceive naturally. NaPro Technology is a medical advancement that works with NFP in this way. It is cheaper than in-vitro fertilization, has higher success rate and does not involve aborting fetuses or freezing embryos as is often part of in-vitro fertilization.
The side-effects of fertility drugs (mood swings, hot flashes, nausea, vomiting, abnormal uterine bleeding and multiple births) may add stress to an already stressful situation. Stress reduction, a healthy diet, maintaining normal weight and exercise are natural ways to improve fertility. Some women have even found simple things like darkness in the bedroom, massage and cough syrup to help improve fertility. Other women have found nutrition books helpful to improve fertility and other problems such as PMS, painful periods, premenopause, repeat miscarriages, irregular cycles, heavy bleeding.
Further Resources
Guiding Perspectives: Prayer, Sacred Scripture, Church Teachings and Natural Law provide more insight and guidance on this subject.