Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the all natural way of deciding how many children you will have and how far apart they will be spaced that is in keeping with the teaching of the Catholic Church. When done correctly, NFP can be as effective as artificial contraception. For many years, doctors and researchers have been studying a woman’s body to see how her hormones, temperature, and fluids respond to different stages of her monthly cycle. By knowing how a woman’s body works optimally,  a couple use that information to determine their own fertility.

NFP at St. Max:

We usually have two sessions, one in the Fall and one in the Spring. All classes will be held from 9:30 AM - 12:30 PM in the youth room.  The cost is $150 plus shipping, however is offered FREE for registered parishioners, contact the parish office for the promo code. Free babysitting might be available - please check with the teaching couple to confirm.

If you're interested in the Main Series, Perimenopause, or Postpartum NFP classes, or if you have any questions, please reach out to Dave and Jen at NFP@saint-max.org

 NFP is required for all couples going through marriage preparation at St. Max. 

1. Sympto-thermal – this is the form of NFP that we will be teaching at St. Max. As with most forms, the woman’s body temperature and cervical mucus are charted each day to determine days of fertility and days of infertility. Each month, the husband and wife communicate to determine whether they will invite conception or whether they abstain until an infertile day. Each day, the wife takes her temperature and checks her cervical mucus. She reports her findings to her husband who notates them on the chart. 
2. Creighton Method – Creighton model NFP is a system that uses the observation of a woman’s cervical mucous to determine times of fertility with the goal of attaining or avoiding a pregnancy. It is also used to identify if there are any hormonal imbalances shown in a woman’s cycle that could point toward medical issues such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, unexplained infertility and many others. Because of it’s diagnostic nature, it works hand in hand with NaPro technology to use effective and ethical means of treating, and in some cases curing, these hormonal imbalances. Learn more at www.creightonmodel.com and www.naprotechnology.com 
3. Billings Ovulation Method – The consistency of cervical mucus is used to determine oncoming ovulation. Learn more at www.boma-usa.com  
4. Marquette Method – this method uses the Clear Blue Easy fertility device and over the counter ovulation kits to determine fertility. In addition to a woman’s urine, cervical mucus and basal body temperature are also used to determine a woman’s fertile period during her monthly cycle.