What is NFP?

Natural Family Planning (NFP) refers to a method of family planning that observes your body's natural biomarkers and uses that information to identify the 6 day fertile window in which pregnancy can occur each cycle. It falls into a broader category of Fertility Awareness Methods (FAM) of family planning, which empower women to take control of their fertility with natural means vs. hormonal contraception.

Though some methods of FAM use barriers during the fertile window, NFP specifically uses abstinence during the fertile window to avoid pregnancy, resulting in a high efficacy surpassing that of most forms of hormonal contraception. Marquette Method has an efficacy of 99% in regular cycles, and 98% in breastfeeding postpartum cycles when practiced according to method rules with the help of an instructor.

Modern methods of NFP do not rely simply on calendar calculations from previous cycle data but monitor real-time biological markers each cycle

Cervical Mucus

Rising estrogen stimulates production of cervical mucus leading up to ovulation

Basal Body Temperature

Rising progesterone causes an increase of body basal temperature post ovulation

Urinary Hormones

Estrogen, LH, and Progesterone can be monitored directly through the urine

Cervical Mucus Methods

Billings Ovulation Method

Cervical mucus-only method developed in the 1950s.
It emphasizes observing sensation (e.g., dryness, wetness, slipperiness) at the vulva to identify fertile days
Typical use effectiveness between 78-99%

Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS)

Standardized adaptation of Billings introduced in the 1980s.
It uses structured, detailed mucus observations (e.g., texure, appearance) with defined coding
Typical use effectiveness between 96.8-97%
Charting used by Napro Technology physicians to help couples struggling with fertility challenges - diagnostic benefit

Sympto-Thermal Methods

Couple to Couple League (CCL)

Sympto-thermal method combines algorithm, mucus, and temperature
Taught by professional trained volunteer couples
Typical use effectiveness is 98.2%

Sympto-Pro

Sympto-Pro is another method combining mucus, and temperature

Sensi-plan

Sensi-plan is another method combining mucus, and temperature

Sympto-Hormonal Methods

Fertility Eductation and Medical Management (FEMM)

Sympto-hormonal method combining urinary LH strips and Mucus observations
Can add temperature tracking as well
FEMM works closely with FEMM-trained doctors and nurses.
Not currently listed with the USCCB for NFP since there's no standardized integration with Catholic church teaching

Marquette Method

Sympto-hormonal method which tracks urinary estrogen and LH with the Clearblue Fertility monitor or the Mira monitor
High rates of user satisfaction due to the ease of using simple objective data to determine fertility status, no mucus monitoring required
Progesterone tracking with Mira or PROOV test strips can be added for ovulation confirmation
Protocols can be used with or without additional biomarkers of temperature and mucus tracking
Adaptable to a low-cost mucus and LH strip protocol if desired
Well-researched postpartum breastfeeding protocol women can use before return of menses with 98% perfect use efficacy, and 96% typical use efficacy
Protocols to support perimenopausal women in managing fertility and avoiding pregnancy
Protocols to support women with PCOS manage their fertility and assist medical management
Typical use efficacy in regular cycles is 98%

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