Natural Family Planning

Benefits of Natural Family Planning (NFP)

   -Able to plan when and how many children to have
              -97-99% effective in avoiding pregnancy
              -also highly effective in planning pregnancy

   -Increase the strength of your marriage
              -couples using NFP have an estimated 95% marriage success rate

    -No dangerous side effects
               -protect your body from allergic reactions, depression, acne, weight gain, nausea, headaches, infertility, increased risk of breast cancer, strokes, and heart attack- all side effects of artificial methods of birth control

    -NFP saves you money
                -artificial methods of birth control cost up to $1,500 for five years

Methods	Possible Side Effects	Effectiveness % Theoretical Actual	Continuation % Rate at One Year	Harmful to Fertility	Responsible for Use
Natural Family Planning Ovulation Method- Creighton Model Ovulation Method- Billings Sympto-thermal Method- Couple to Couple	NONE	99.5 96.8 97-99 93-98 98-99 96-97	89 65 69	No No No	Man & Woman Man & Woman Man & Woman
Barrier Methods* Condoms Diaphragm Sponge	All may cause allergic reactions and irritation. Disphragms & Sponges sometimes difficult to remove. Increase risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome.	97 88 94 82 80-91 64-82	63 58 52	No No No	Man Woman Woman
Birth Control Pills (2 hormones) Contraceptive: suppresses ovulation (the release of an egg); if ovulation occurs, the sperm can be prevented from reaching the egg because of thickened cervical mucus. *Abortifacient if ovulation occurs, (3-5% of cycles) & conception occurs, the "pill" acts by preventing the attachment of early human life to the uterus.	Common: May delay return of normal fertility. Breast tenderness, breast cysts, depression, weight gain, headaches, nausea & vomiting, irregular bleeding. Rare: Possible increased risk of breast cancers, liver tumors, elevated blood pressure, heart attack, blood clots, stroke.	99.6 94	72	May Delay	Woman

TERMS
Conception- Union of sperm and egg; the beginning of human life
* Contraceptive- prevents conception
** Abortifacient- agent that ends human life after conception has occurred

Compiled by Peter Danis, M.D. and the American Academy of NFP

For area class call 1-800-255-6226