What is Natural Family Planning?

We believe fertility is a normal part of a healthy being - something to be appreciated and valued, rather than something to be suppressed or controlled. 

Natural Family Planning is defined as:

“methods of planning and preventing pregnancies by observation of the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle, with avoidance of intercourse during the fertile phase if pregnancy is to be avoided.” 

(World Health Organisation 1982)

We aim to raise your awareness about the bodily changes associated with fertility and infertility so that you can identify:

i) the fertile phase* of the menstrual cycle, that is, the days of the menstrual cycle when sexual intercourse or genital contact are most likely to result in a pregnancy; and 

ii) the infertile phases of the menstrual cycle, that is, the days of the menstrual cycle when pregnancy is unlikely to occur. 

Natural family planning can be used in all stages of your fertile life. 

• to simply understand your cycles, especially if you:

                 * have health or medical issues

                 * have irregular cycles

                 * have cycles of varying lengths

                 * are coming off the pill or other hormonal contraceptives

• to plan your family - achieving and spacing pregnancies
• to naturally avoid pregnancy
• to navigate the uncertainties of fertility returning following the birth of a baby
• to understand the signs associated with the changes of approaching menopause

Research has shown that NFP is most successfully used when all the available signs and symptoms associated with ovulation are considered, as in the Sympto-Thermal Method. Success depends not only on careful observations and accurate charting, but on your mutual motivation, co-operation and commitment to making NFP work for you. Natural Family Planning will be most effective when an accredited NFP Educator has delivered adequate instruction and guidance. Follow up consultations are a vital part of learning to use NFP successfully.