Advantages of Natural Family Planning
Safe and Healthy
- No medical side effects
- No abortifacient effects (in contrast to methods using artificial hormones--Pill, Patch, Depo shot, etc.)
- Promotes self-awareness and wellness
- Can alert a couple to potential fertility problems or other health issues
True Family Planning
- Can help couples with low fertility to have the best chance of conceiving a child
- Does not risk extended loss, reduction, or total elimination of fertility as do the Pill, Depo-Provera, IUD, etc.
- Can be "reversed" at any time
Effective in Postponing Pregnacy
- Same range of effectiveness as the most effective artificial means (Pill, IUD, etc.)
- More effective than barriers such as condoms, diaphragms, spermicides, etc.
Inexpensive
- Instruction in methods between $ 50 and $ 400, sliding scale available in all methods
- Payback vs contraception is a few months
Morally Right
- When used in the context of Responsible Parenthood
- Respects the integrity of the man and wife, created in God's image
- Vs. contraception, which "must be excluded as intrinsically immoral" (Familiaris Consortio, 32)
Good for Marriages and for Children
- Promotes communication, faithfulness, intimacy, mutual respect, chastity, love
- Helps parents appreciate children as gifts from God
- Helps parents communicate healthy sexual attitudes to their children