Fertility Awareness andNatural Family Planning

Observing one or more of the body’s natural signs of fertility, and…making couple decisions about whether or not to achieve a pregnancy — on that basis.

A Method of Merit

• Medically safe• Highly reliable• Inexpensive• True family planning• A shared method• Consistent with all religious

traditions

NFP Can Be Successfully Used...

• Regular cycles• Non-typical cycles• Breastfeeding• Peri-menopause• In cases of apparent infertility• For self-knowledge

Couple Fertility

MaleFertility

is constant

FemaleFertility

is in cycles

Sperm

Sperm

Sperm

Cervical Mucus

+Egg

Signs

• Fertility mucus• Basal body temperature

Ovulation andthe Role of Cervical Mucus

• Ovulation is the release of the egg cell.

• It occurs on one day each cycle.• The egg cell lives only 12 to 24 hours.• Sperm need cervical mucus to survive.

• Without it they die within hours.• With good cervical mucus, sperm can live

3 to 5 days.

Progesterone Type Mucus

Estrogen Type Mucus

Cervical Mucus

Fertile TimeInfertile Time

Process of ConceptionFallopian Tube

Conception

Yellow Body

Mucus

(helps sperm to

live)Vagina

Cervix

Uterus

Hormones

Testosterone

LH

FSH

Male Hormone Pattern

Female Hormone Pattern

LH

Progesterone

EstrogenFSH

Blo

od

Levels

Blo

od

Levels

Woman’s Hormonal Sequence

ProgesteroneEstroge

n

LH

FSH

Impact of Progesterone

1. 1. Prevents Prevents OvulationOvulation

Yellow Yellow Body Body

ProgesterProgesteroneone

3. Mucus 3. Mucus PlugPlug

2. Temperature 2. Temperature Rises Rises

& Stays High& Stays High

4. 4. Enriches Enriches Uterine Uterine LiningLining

Each Cycle Has 3 Phases

Onset of True Menses

Start of Fertility

3rd High Temp

Peak Day

Possibly Fertile Time

Relatively Infertile

TimeCompletely

Infertile Time

Tissue-Dry: Ø

Sticky Mucus: MTraits: P, O, ¼, ½, ¾.

Egg-White Mucus: EW-MTraits: 1, OT, T, G.

Tissue Symbols

EWEWMM MMØØ ØØ

Peak DayPeak Day

EWEWMM MMØØ ØØ

dmM L

mM d

Sample ChartClient I.D. #: ___________ Name: _______________ D.O.B.: ________ Gyn. Age: 13 Notes: ____

Children M: 2 F: 0 MC: 1 Temp. Method: Oral Time: 7:00 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-33 This Cycle: 29 Cycle#: 1

Month 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

Day 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Menses

37.2 99.0 GC

.1 .8

37.0 .6

.9 .4 Sensation d d d L L d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d

.8 .2 EW EW EW EW

.7 98.0 Tissue Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M

.6 .8 P P 1" 2" 2" G Ø Ø36.5 .6 OT T

.4 .4

.3 .2

.2 97.0 Cervix

°C °F

.

mM

mM

mM

mM

PK

6

5 43 2 1

Possibly Fertile Time

Possibly Fertile Time

Implantation Process

Achieving PregnancyGyn Age: 20 M: 0 F: 0 MC: 0Cycle #: 5 Range: 22-36 Temp: Vaginal Time: 6:30 a.m.

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Menses PK

37.2 99.0

.1 .8

37.0 .6

.9 .4

.8 .2 EW EW EW

.7 98.0 Ø Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

.6 .8

36.5 .6

.4 .4

.3 .2

36.2 97.0

°C °F

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

12

3

4

5

6

Identifying PregnancyChildren M: 0 F: 1 Miscarriage: 0 Method: Vaginal Time: 7:30 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-33 Cycle#: 20 Gyn. Age: 23

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Menses PK BT BT BT BT BT

37.2 99.0 GC

.1 .8

37.0 .6

.9 .4 Sensation d d d d d L L L d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d

.8 .2 EW EW EW EW Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

.7 98.0 Tissue Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M Ø F T S L Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

.6 .8

36.5 .6 P R B

.4 .4

.3 .2

.2 97.0 Cervix F F F F F S S S S S S F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F

.1 .8 L L L L L L L H H H H L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L

36.0 .6 C C C C C C O O O O O C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C C

.9 .4 Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M M EWEWEWEW Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø

.8 .2 M M M M

°C °F 5:30 AM Temp1" T

1" T

1" T

1" T

.. . . . . .

Unborn Child

Unborn child at 14 weeks

Temperature PatternCycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Menses

37.2 99.0

.1 .8

37.0 .6

.9 .4

.8 .2 Biphasic

.7 98.0 (Two Levels)

.6 .8

36.5 .6

.4 .4

.3 .2

36.2 97.0 Monophasic°C °F (One Level)

Let’s Say Peak Day Is Here…

PK

Watch for 3 Temperatures in a Row…

To separate the “initial” highs from the “final” lows

65

4

3

2

1

Full Thermal Shift Level is 0.4°F above the PRB

PRB

65

43

2

1

FTSL

.4°F

*FTSL = 0.36° F/0.2° C

CIT starts the evening of the 3rd post-peak high in a row, if it is on or above the FTSL.

PK

65

43

2

1

PRB

FTSL

.4° F

Completely Infertile

Time

Completely Infertile Time

Post-Ovulatory Phase Constant

Last day of Menstrual

Cycle

2 weeks

2 weeks

2 weeks

Ovulation

Ovulation

Ovulation

23 Days

28 Days

32 Days

Before Ovulation

After Ovulation

When does ovulation occur?

Range of Ovulation

Client I.D. #: _________________ Name: ______________________ D.O.B.: ________ Gyn. Age: 13 Notes: ______

Children #: 0 Temp. Method: Oral Time: 6:30 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-36 This Cycle: _________ Cycle#: 38

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Menses

37.2 99.0

.1 .8 3 2 1 PK 1 2 3

37.0 .6

.9 .4 Sensation

.8 .2 EW EW EW EW

.7 98.0 Tissue Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M

.6 .8 Ø Ø36.5 .6

.4 .4

.3 .2

.2 97.0 Cervix

°C °F

.. . . ..

. .

Surprise Pregnancy?

Client I.D. #: ______________ Name: _________________________________ D.O.B.: ________ Gyn. Age: 23 Notes: ______ Year: ______

Children #M: 0 #F: 3 Miscarriage: ____ Temp. Method: Rectal Time: 7:00 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-32 Cycle#: 8

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Menses PG37.2 99.0 X X X

.1 .8 Sensation

37.0 .6 EW EW

.9 .4 Tissue Ø ? M M M M •

.8 .2

.7 98.0

.6 .8

36.5 .6

.4 .4

.3 .2

36.2 97.0

°C °F Cervix

The Periodic Abstinence Question

• Intimacy is more than genital expression.

• It’s typically 8 to 12 days per cycle.

• The Spontaneity Myth.

Availability of IntercourseClient I.D. #: ______________ Name: _________________________________ D.O.B.: ________ Gyn. Age: 14

Children #M: 1 #F: 2 Miscarriage: 2 Temp. Method: Oral Time: 6:30 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-36 Cycle#: 38

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Menses

37.2 99.0 X X X PK X X X X X X X X X X

.1 .8 Sensation d d d L L d d d d d d d d d d d

37.0 .6 EW EW EW EW

.9 .4 Tissue Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M

.8 .2

.7 98.0

.6 .8

36.5 .6

.4 .4 6 3 2 1

.3 .2 5 4

36.2 97.0

°C °F Cervix FC FC SC SO SO SO SO SO SO SO FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC SO

Cycle Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Anytime End of day

Understanding BleedingTRUE MENSES

HIGH TEMPERATURE (1-2 WEEKS)

OVULATION SPOTTING OR BLEEDING

UNDIAGNOSED BLEEDING

Two Major Concerns About NFP Livability

• How well does it work?

• Is periodic abstinence possible?

Definitions

• Method Effectiveness • Rules are correctly understood and

followed

• Use Effectiveness• Actual use including

misunderstanding and carelessness

NFP Effectiveness

• Method Effectiveness – 97-99+ percent

• Use Effectiveness – 90-99+ percent

Use Effectiveness of NFP Depends Upon…

• Course of instruction with follow-up

• Consistent and correct charting

• Knowing and following the rules especially complete abstinence from all genital contact

Reasons for Using NFP

How can Priests promote the Church’s moral teaching on

NFP?

• Maintain prayer life.• Preach NFP from the pulpit.• Educate in confession.• Provide NFP Intro Course to

your married and engaged couples.

• Introduce NFP to adult converts in the RCIA program

• Educate Pro Life Ministry