Fertility Awareness and
Natural 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
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Medically safe
Highly reliable
Inexpensive
True family planning
A shared method
Consistent with all religious traditions
NFP Can Be
Successfully Used...
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Regular cycles
Non-typical cycles
Breastfeeding
Peri-menopause
In cases of apparent infertility
For self-knowledge
Couple Fertility
Male
Fertility is
constant
Female
Fertility is
in cycles
Sperm
Sperm
Cervical
Mucus
+
Egg
Sperm
Signs
• Fertility mucus
• Basal body temperature
Ovulation and
the Role of Cervical Mucus
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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.
Cervical Mucus
Infertile Time
Progesterone
Type Mucus
Fertile Time
Estrogen Type
Mucus
Process of Conception
Fallopian Tube
Conception
Uterus
Cervix
Yellow Body
Mucus
Vagina
(helps sperm
to live)
Hormones
Progesterone
LH
LH
FSH
Estrogen
Testosterone
Male Hormone
Pattern
Female Hormone Pattern
Blood Levels
Blood Levels
FSH
Woman’s Hormonal Sequence
Estrogen
Progesterone
FSH
LH
Impact of Progesterone
4. Enriches
Uterine
Lining
1. Prevents
Ovulation
3. Mucus Plug
Yellow Body
Progesterone
2. Temperature Rises
& Stays High
Each Cycle Has 3 Phases
Onset of True
Menses
Relatively
Infertile
Time
Completely
Infertile
Time
Start of
Fertility
3rd High Temp
Possibly
Fertile
Time
Peak Day
Tissue Symbols
Tissue-Dry:
Ø
Sticky Mucus:
M
Traits: P, O, ¼, ½, ¾.
Egg-White Mucus:
EW-M
Traits: 1, OT, T, G.
Ø
M
EW
M
Ø
d
m
M
Ø
M
L
m
M
d
EW
M
Ø
Peak Day
Sample Chart
Client 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
Day
Cycle Day
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
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
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
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2.
.7
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
.2
°C
Sensation
98.0 Tissue
.6
97.0 Cervix
°F
GC
PK
d d d
m
M
m
M
m
M
m
M
L L d d d d d d d d d d d d d d d
EW EW EW EW
ØØØMM M M M MMM
P
P 1" 2" 2" G
OT T
6
3 2 1
5 4
ØØØØØØØØØØM
ØØ
Possibly Fertile Time
Possibly
Fertile
Time
Implantation Process
Achieving Pregnancy
Gyn Age: 20 M: 0 F: 0 MC: 0
Cycle #: 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
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
36.2
97.0
°C
°F
Cycle Day 1
EW EW EW
Ø Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
3
5
6
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
4
2
1
9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Identifying Pregnancy
Children M: 0 F: 1 Miscarriage: 0 Method: Vaginal
Cycle Day 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
99.0
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
PK
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
.2
BT BT BT BT BT
GC
Sensation
98.0 Tissue
.6
Cycle#: 20 Gyn. Age: 23
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
37.2
Time: 7:30 a.m. Cycle Range: 27-33
97.0 Cervix
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
EW EW EW EW
ØØØØØØØØ
F T S L Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø
ØØØØØMM M M M M Ø
P R B
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
.8
.2
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
M M M M
°C
°F
5:30 AM Temp
1" 1" 1" 1"
T T T T
Unborn Child
Unborn child at 14 weeks
Temperature Pattern
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
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
2
5
6
3
4
1
Full Thermal Shift Level is 0.4°F above
the PRB
FTSL
.4°F
PRB
2
5
6
3
1
4
*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
FTSL
.4° F
PRB
2
6
5
4
3
1
Completely Infertile Time
Completely
Infertile
Time
Post-Ovulatory Phase Constant
When does ovulation occur?
Before
Ovulation Ovulation
After
Ovulation
2 weeks
Ovulation
Ovulation
23 Days
2 weeks
28 Days
2 weeks
32 Days
Last day of
Menstrual Cycle
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
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2.
.7
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
°C
Sensation
98.0 Tissue
.6
.2
3 2 1 PK 1 2 3
97.0 Cervix
°F
EW EW EW EW
ØØØMM M M M MMM
.
.
.
.
.
.
ØØØØØØØØØØM
ØØ
.
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
PG
Menses
37.2
99.0
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
36.2
97.0
°C
°F
X
X
X
Sensation
EW EW
Tissue
Cervix
Ø ? M
M M M
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The Periodic Abstinence Question
• Intimacy is more than
genital expression.
• It’s typically 8 to 12
days per cycle.
• The Spontaneity Myth.
Availability of Intercourse
Client 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
.1
.8
37.0
.6
.9
.4
.8
.2
.7
98.0
.6
.8
36.5
.6
.4
.4
.3
.2
36.2
97.0
°C
°F
X X
PK
X
d d d
Sensation
X X
X
X
X
X
X
L L d d d d
X X
X
d d d d d d d
EW EW EW EW
Ø Ø Ø M M M M M M M M Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M
Tissue
6
Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø M
3 2 1
5 4
Cervix
Cycle Day 1
2
FC FC SC SO SO SO SO SO SO SO FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC FC
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
Anytime
FC FC FC FC SO
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9 10 11
End of day
Understanding Bleeding
TRUE 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?
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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