Natural Family Planning

Safe, effective, affordable, life affirming

Discover the key to women’s health and self-knowledge of your body’s natural physical signs of fertility.

The Natural Method of Family Planning (NFP) is:

  • Medically and scientifically proven
  • 98-99 percent effective for spacing or avoiding pregnancy
  • Safe, involving no drugs or devices
  • Affordable, requiring only a very low initial instruction cost
  • Highly-effective for couples of low fertility in need of assistance in achieving a pregnancy

Perhaps best of all, Natural Family Planning has a positive impact on a couple’s marriage because it fosters commitment and communication in couples to work together with their combined fertility and share in meeting their family goals.

Not to be confused with the “rhythm method,” NFP teaches the three primary fertility signs that can be used alone or in combination with one another.

The ovulation method (Billings Method)

This method is the primary natural sign that allows a woman to recognize when she is fertile by observing changes in her vaginal mucus discharge. It can be used in all reproductive circumstances including irregular cycles, cycles without ovulation, during breast or bottle-feeding, when coming off the pill or approaching menopause, and in couples of low fertility.

Basal body temperature

When a woman ovulates, her waking, resting body temperature rises to a sustained high level confirming ovulation.

Changes in the cervix

As a woman’s fertile phase begins, her cervix changes to receive sperm entering the uterus. NFP teaches the proper way to detect and correctly interpret those changes.

Natural Family Planning is easy to learn. It is important, however, that the method be taught correctly and the woman’s initial progress be observed by professional instructors.

Providence has offered courses in the Natural Methods of Family Planning since 1976. The basic course consists of one class each month for three consecutive months.

To learn more about Natural Family Planning, or to register for classes, call 509-474-2400 or send us an email.