The only approved method of spacing children in the eyes of the Catholic Church is Natural Family Planning (NFP).

Natural Family Planning is a term used for identifying some methods of achieving or avoiding pregnancies. It is based on naturally occurring signs and symptoms of a woman’s fertile and infertile cycles. Natural family planning helps couples to enrich the bond between husband and wife. Any couple can use NFP! The modern method of NFP is not the old “rhythm method.”

The old calendar “rhythm” method is a natural method, but it is very different from he modern approaches to family planning. Calendar “rhythm” is based on a woman’s past cycle lengths and some averages and is unable to account for irregular cycles. The modern methods of natural family planning are based chiefly on present fertility signs of the current cycle and is also effective during irregular cycles.

There are two methods of NFP taught in the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux.

• Sympto-Thermal Method - The Couple to Couple League (CCL) teaches the Sympto-thermal method of NFP. In this system, a couple uses cross-checking signs of fertility: cervical mucus, waking temperatures and changes in the cervix itself. The woman may also use secondary signs of fertility such as ovulation pain. For more information you can go to their web site: www.ccli.org
• Billings Ovulation Method - Couples using the Billings Ovulation Method chart the woman’s natural and unique signs of fertility every day. Based on the observations of sensation, guidelines within the woman’s cycle are applied depending on the couple’s desire to achieve or postpone pregnancy. For more information you can look at their web site: www.boma-usa.org

If you are interested in classes in either method of NFP, please call the Office of Family Ministries at (985) 850-3129.