FAQ

  1. NFP is NOT the rhythm method.

    Though many confuse NFP with the rhythm method, which assumes that every woman has the same, regular cycle, modern methods of NFP depend on a woman’s ability to observe her own body’s signals that indicate when she is fertile and infertile. As such, NFP can be used by women who have irregular cycles, who are postpartum and breastfeeding, who are coming off of artificial methods, and who are in premenopause.

  2. NFP is 99% effective in avoiding pregnancy.

    Unfortunately, many medical studies that report the effectiveness of various forms of birth control that include NFP are poorly designed to evaluate NFP effectiveness. Some studies do not differentiate between those who use the rhythm method and those who use modern methods of NFP. Some do not even differentiate between couples who use NFP to avoid pregnancy and those who use it to achieve! As such, these studies are unreliable in reporting the real effectiveness rates of NFP. Well-done studies have reported NFP effectiveness rates that are better or comparable to those of artificial methods. Perfect use NFP effectiveness rates are shown to be around 99% for those who use it to avoid pregnancy, and typical use rates are around 97-99%; the pill’s typical use rates are about 92% effective in avoiding pregnancy.

  3. NFP has zero side effects.

    I encourage all women who are using artificial birth control or who are thinking about using it to be fully informed and to read the package insert that lists the risks involved. The World Health Organization has classified oral contraceptives as a group one carcinogen for breast, liver, and cervical cancer. Low libido and mood disturbances are two of its more common side effects. Many women switch from brand to brand and between various artificial methods due to the many unfavorable side effects that they experience. On the other hand, NFP has NO side effects, which may contribute to NFP’s high retention rate. Most people who begin NFP are happy with it and they tend to stick with it.

  4. NFP couples report higher overall marital satisfaction.

    The 2002 Wilson study showed that couples who used NFP reported an increase in respect for self and spouse, increased communication, increased frequency of marital intimacy, higher satisfaction with marital intimacy, and higher overall marital satisfaction. The study also reported significantly lower divorce rates for NFP couples.