The Catholic Church & Natural Family Planning

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In this post we will discuss Catholic teaching on Natural Family Planning, what it is, what it’s not, and the different NFP methods Catholic couples can use to prevent pregnancy or achieve pregnancy naturally. We will also discuss topics like contraception, emotional intimacy, and how NFP is a gift for your marriage.

Most couples feel confused when it comes to the Roman Catholic view on contraception. The questions we often ask are:

1. Why is the Catholic church against contraception?
2. Why do we have to practice chastity in marriage (periodic continence)?
3. Isn’t abstaining from sex in marriage another form of contraception?
4. What is the most effective NFP method? Does NFP even work?!

Let’s delve into this hot-button topic! We will be discussing more than the actual methods and biology of a woman’s cycle and will focus on how this is a deepening of the vocation of marriage and a great tool in helping couples live out the truth and teachings of the Catholic Church.

What is Natural Family Planning?

Natural Family Planning (also known as NFP) is an umbrella term for certain methods used to achieve or avoid conception. There are varying methods to observe the naturally occurring signs and symptoms of the fertile and infertile phases of a woman’s menstrual cycle.

NFP is a means for learning to live with fertility. Fertility isn’t a disease to be treated or suppressed. This is where practicing NFP can become quite counter to what modern “health-care” offers: often a  suppressing of fertility and sometimes removal of perfectly healthy reproductive organs.

The Catholic Church offers a counter-cultural approach, upholding the fertility of a man or woman for what it is: a gift.

Natural Family Planning is the only approved Catholic church family planning method. This is critical for those who choose to be intentional in living out the faith. In other words: this is the only method to achieve or avoid conception that respects God’s design for married love.

Married Love: The Church and Sexuality

Our faith calls couples to live in a total, fruitful, faithful and free marriage. Our Catholic church loves sex! Yup, read that again. I am certain we didn’t hear it put this way when we were growing up, and surely most of our educators and parents might have even made sex sound like a sinful, bad act until marriage, then suddenly it’s this wonderful thing you should do often! The desire for love and sex is not sinful, unless one is lustful, but when one is practicing self mastery- this desire is holy. Our bodies are designed to partake in this mystery of the total gift of self, as it is a core part of who we are and how we are designed to be (as image bearers of God).

So what is the purpose of sex in marriage? Saint Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body tells us much about this question. The Church teaches that this very union of man and woman is meant to be a sacred union; a heavenly sign; a sign of Christ’s presence.

In fact the Catechism of the Catholic Church states this:

On the threshold of his public life Jesus performs his first sign—at his mother’s request—during a wedding feast. The Church attaches great importance to Jesus’ presence at the wedding at Cana. She sees in it the confirmation of the goodness of marriage and the proclamation that thenceforth marriage will be an efficacious sign of Christ’s presence.

Married love that is total, fruitful, faithful and free reflects the dignity of the spouse and promotes openness to life, recognizing the value of children. If we know this is an efficacious sign then it must be selfless and sacrificial, as an image of Christ himself. So, it must be that we are made for a heavenly marriage- to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb (Rev 19:7).

This marriage we are called to is a mystery that we won’t fully understand in this life, but are being invited into through this earthly Sacrament of Matrimony. The same is for the marital act, we are called to enter into the mystery of the two becoming one.

Catholic Chastity in Marriage

First we must ask ourselves: what is the role of sex in marriage? We know as Catholic we are supposed to “be fertile and multiply” (Gen 1:28), and that the coming together is an “efficacious sign of Christ’s presence” (CCC 1613); that the body alone is capable of making visible what is invisible: the spiritual and divine; God’s invisible mystery (TOB 19:4).

As Catholics, we practice chastity for many reasons:

1. To not reduce our significant other as a means to an end. When we come together in the marital act there is a very happy ending. When we use a contraceptive barrier (which we will get into more in a moment), we are no longer giving of ourselves totally, therefore we are making our spouse a means to an end, which is our pleasure.
2. Chastity in marriage is healthy. It is a form of fasting and fasting produces spiritual fruit (think of Lent!).
3. It is also taking into consideration the other spouse and the reasons why one spouse may need to be chaste or practice periodic continence (a method of avoiding pregancy by abstaining from sexual intercourse during the woman’s fertile phase). Some examples of reasons are as follows:
   • Your spouse just had a baby and it is advised to not have sexual intercourse for at least 6 weeks.
   • Your spouse is ill or unable to partake in the marital act.
   • Maybe your spouse is struggling or experiencing a season of suffering.
   • Your spouse is gone (maybe on a work trip or retreat with a friend).
   • You are currently avoiding pregnancy, in which the both of you would practice periodic continence.

The modern non-Catholic approach is to ignore the Catholic view of contraception completely and either throw in the towel, using artificial forms of contraception any way- or worse – turn to oneself for pleasure (through self-stimulation), ignoring the fact altogether that your spouse can’t partake in the marital act and be unwilling to wait for him/her. The last option would be to choose obedience to the moral law and practice chastity in marriage.

Catholic teaching tells us this is good, this is holy, this is the way that leads to life. Obedience at its best doesn’t stem from force or fear but from love for the good, the true, and the beautiful- ultimately, love for God.

The role of sex in marriage? It is an expression of total, self-giving love between the spouses. To believe that sex is meant simply for pleasure only severely undervalues it. The Church believes that sex between married couples is a sacred act that is to be regenerative in nature.

The Catholic Church has written extensively about sexuality and its role in marriages. Humanae Vitae (written by Pope Paul VI) recognizes sex as rooted in God’s love plan for his children. It even considered sex a vital element in every marriage as it enables couples to make wise, responsible, and generous decisions about the size of their family and the spacing of births.

Why is the Catholic Church Against Contraception?

contraception (n.)

“birth control, prevention of conception in the womb,” coined 1886 from Latin contra “against” (source: etymonline.com)

To contracept literally means “against.” Let’s look at the word against (contra):

contra (prep., adv.)

“against, over against, opposite, on the opposite side; on the contrary, contrariwise,” Contra was earlier used as a noun in English, directly from Latin, in the senses of “a thing which is against another” (1778) (source: etymonline.com)

So we see here this critical line: a thing which is against another. To contracept is an act in which we are against another. When spouses choose to contracept using artificial means as a barrier, they are not giving of themselves freely. In fact, they are withholding a critical part of themselves in selfishness from their spouse- which is contradictory to marriage itself. A bold statement by John Paull II states that this refusal to be open to life is a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love:

Thus the innate language that expresses the total reciprocal self-giving of husband and wife is overlaid, through contraception, by an objectively contradictory language, namely, that of not giving oneself totally to the other. This leads not only to a positive refusal to be open to life, but also to a falsification of the inner truth of conjugal love…”

Familiaris consortio, 32

Forms of Contraception & Sterilization:

The following artificial forms of contraception and sterilizations are not approved by the Catholic Church for use in or outside of marriage. If one is using these or has undergone sterilization procedures- this is considered a moral evil (CCC 2399).

The pull out method is considered to be an immoral act as well though not an artificial means of contraception- it is a means that is often used, though not often effective for avoiding pregnancy.

Sterilization of one’s body is an ultimate act of rejecting healthy fertility (like cutting off a perfectly working limb!). This act interferes with God’s design for marriage and the fertility of man. Most sterilizations that happen in the Catholic families are done after the family has reached their “ideal” number of children. Rejecting perfectly healthy fertility is now a very socially acceptable thing, to the detriment of believers and non-believers alike.

The Hard Things that aren’t Talked About

Every act we commit has a consequence. There is much the Church has to say on this, but the fact of the matter is that there is a lot about contraceptives that aren’t talked about, especially the unexpected suffering they can cause:

• Artificial contraceptives and forms of sterilization are not always effective as a means of avoiding pregnancy and can be quite unreliable. Any genital contact during the fertile period can lead to pregnancy.
• Artificial contraceptives that are “natural” resulting in minimal side-effects are still not approved by the Catholic Church when used to avoid pregnancy in the marital act.
• Some forms of contraceptives can work like an abortifacient and cause a chemical abortion of a zygote, embryo, or fetus after conception has occurred (even without the mother’s knowledge). This is more common with use of The Pill or Hormonal IUDs as they can thin the uterine lining, therefore if a fertilized egg does attach, it is often weak and unable to survive- resulting in a known or unknown miscarriage.
• The birth control pill can also prevent ovulation by causing mucus in the cervix to change so sperm cannot enter.
• Medical research shows that oral contraceptives cause excess production of progestogens. The concern here is that the build up of progestogens over time actually ages a woman’s cervix beyond her years. The evidence is showing, for instance, a 30 year-old woman who has been on the Pill since she was 18, now has the cervix of a woman in her mid-forties.
• This cervical aging makes it harder to achieve pregnancy, thus resulting in many women suffering from infertility.
• Unexpected/unplanned pregnancy can occur resulting in an unwanted abortion (even with use of the Plan B pill), or a difficult pregnancy as the hormonal contraceptives often leave harmful effects on a woman’s fertility.
• You can still get pregnant even with sterilizations (vasectomy in particular).
• Contraceptives and sterilizations can have harmful life-long side effects on the body for both men and women. It also harms one’s spirit as they are immoral and disregard the dignity of persons.
• The use of contraceptives or sterilization in a marriage can lead to other unwanted marital barriers such as emotional withdrawal, reducing the other as a means to an end, disrespect, and can even be a factor in divorce or separation.

Emotional & Spiritual Contraception

We can contracept in other ways too. Emotional and Spiritual contraception (or withdrawal) can cause just as much harm to the marital union as physically contracepting does. Marriage is built upon pillars: Emotional, Spiritual, & Sexual. Think of three legs on a stool- if one is broken or missing, the stool is unable to stand. It creates a weak foundation for families.

Here are some ways in which couples can contracept emotionally and/or spiritually:

• Emotional or Spiritual withdrawal
• Withholding parts of oneself (including sexual past/history, addictive or disordered behaviors)
• Bearing false witness to the other (dishonesty)
• Partaking in sexual acts outside of the marriage bond (including lust and self-stimulation); ultimately being unfaithful.

These forms of withdrawal (hiding or keeping from) can have long-term effects and life-long consequences on the marital union. They can inhibit growth and fruitfulness, just as physical contraceptives do. One could also say they have generational effects.

Remember, as Catholics we believe in body-soul composite. What we do with our bodies does indeed affect the soul and vice versa. We can convince ourselves that getting a vasectomy is a better option than using condoms or having to abstain, but the ultimate end is separation from God (CCC 1035), whatever it may be. Living a virtuous life can be difficult but not impossible. As Catholics we are called to faith that all things are possible through Christ who gives me strength (Ph 4:13). We are also given a conscience and the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity at baptism to help us get to heaven, plus the Sacraments!

Common Questions about the use of Contraception in a Catholic Marriage:

Does this mean we can only have sex when we are ready to have a baby?

Nope. Because of the thoughtful and amazing design of a woman’s cycle- there is an infertile period each cycle. Essentially, there are times when the wife will not be fertile and the two can engage in the marital act without the concern of pregnancy if they are choosing to avoid it. The teachings of the Catholic Church are not meant to burden us; they are meant to set us free.

Is there such a thing as catholic birth control for medical reasons?

Unfortunately no, the only way to remain obedient to Mother Church (the Church Christ founded Himself), is to avoid all artificial means of contraception. If there are medical issues and one is concerned about pregnancy, then abstinence is key here. There are special cases that can go to the Vatican for review regarding ethics and proper procedures to follow, but those are grave and rare. Ask your health care provider about NaPro Technology which was developed by the Pope Paul VI Institute and is becoming widely used by Catholics who struggle with fertility issues (popepaulvi.com).

Using contraceptives in a Catholic marriage is considered partaking in a moral evil. It is recommended to find a provider that is willing to walk with you in respect of your beliefs and willing to find a path to support your body through whatever medical issue is at hand, without altering your marital fruitfulness (in body and spirit!).

How are we to avoid pregnancy naturally then?

There are various NFP methods that are approved by the Catholic Church. Any of those would be appropriate for use as a tool to avoid pregnancy. As noted above, there is an infertile phase in the women’s cycle that happens post-ovulation. This is a good time to use it as an active window for coming together and not conceiving. If one is avoiding pregnancy, the couple would abstain during the fertile phase. This varies from couple to couples as not every woman’s cycle is the same and depends on factors like monitoring and charting the markers. There are also other ways to engage in marital love outside of sexual intercourse (i.e. cuddling, going on a date, cooking together, etc.). God can use the fruits of our fertility of spirit elsewhere during those times of fasting, even outside of our marriage and into the community around us. Give it a try and see what He does with your time of abstinence!

What is the most effective natural family planning method?

All methods of NFP have established effectiveness rates, though they are dependent on how they are used: perfect-use or correct-use rates vs. typical use rates. No method, natural or artificial is 100% effective in avoiding pregnancy. The only 100% effective method to avoid pregnancy is abstinence (chastity in marriage) during the fertile window. This would mean no genital contact or breaking of the various “rules” for it to be effective.

The effectiveness of NFP varies from couple to couple and on differing variables like proper charting, personal comittment, expertise, training, instructor involvement, etc. Overall, NFP is known to be 95%-99% successful for spacing and limiting births!

Even if there is no intent to have a child in every act of sexual intercourse, couples may never actively impede the sexual act from being ordered towards the generation of children. This means that mutually stimulating the other is off-limits if it isn’t ending in the full marital act.

What are the Approved Catholic NFP Methods?

Let’s talk about the basics. There are various approved methods and approaches to either achieve or avoid pregnancy without the use of artificial contraception.

All NFP methods identify using the phases of a woman’s biological markers. Women having both fertile and infertile phases and men being fertile all the time. NFP can be used for couples who struggle with infertility as it can help couples achieve pregnancy as well by gaining a better understanding of hormonal shifts and potential health issues that may need tending to.

The various approved methods of NFP are:

• Ovulation Method (daily monitor tracking / cervical mucus check)
  • Billings Ovulation Method (BOM)
  • Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CRM)
  • Family of the Americas Foundation Method (FAF)
• Multi-Index Methods (observing more than one marker)
  • Sympto-Thermal Method
  • Hormonal-Monitoring Method
  • Marquette Method (uses the ClearBlue Fertility Monitor)
• There are many other tools and resources to use under the umbrella of these approaches (like LH test strips, fertility tests, and others).

It is highly recommended that couples find a trained and certified NFP instructor to walk with, in addition to a health care provider who respects and supports NFP. In-depth NFP classes are available in-person and online. Visit USCCB’s Quick Reference Guide for NFP Mehods and Download the free Ebook below for more resources!

Why NFP is a Gift for your Marriage

NFP is holistic, holy, and whole. It respects and reveres the physiology and biology of the partners, most especially the woman. It is known as a great gift for all couples to partake in!

• NFP does no harm to the marriage bond or the body. It promotes healthy communication in all stages and seasons of life- especially while growing a family!
• Most methods of NFP are free or low-cost.
• It is approved by the Catholic Church as a way to naturally space children and avoid pregnancy.
• It is free from harmful side-effects (physical, spiritual, & emotional).
• NFP creates a pathway for communication and healing in marriages as it often can pull-out other issues that are in need of attention (look up NFP healing testimonies!).
• NFP leaves room for God’s will in the marriage.

Let’s Recap!

NFP is more than monitoring biological markers- it is learning to live with fertility. It creates a pathway for couples to lead a holy life and build a firm-foundation. It helps couples grow in virtue as they remain obedient. Remaining obedient and fasting can produce spiritual fruits in our lives. NFP honors the spouse by respecting his/her dignity.

It is more than a method or technique, it is a way of life as it is interwoven with our faith as Catholic Christians. NFP protects and preserves not just the marriage bond, but the family as a whole.

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