Natural Family Planning Methods

Four methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP) are taught in the Diocese of Fargo: Billings Ovulation Method, Couple to Couple League, Creighton Model FertilityCare System, and the Marquette Model. Below you will find a brief description of each of these methods.  For additional information, visit their websites (links are given below).

The Billings Ovulation Method of America is a simple, scientific method for understanding and interpreting a woman’s fertility and was used by Saint Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) in her work with the poor in India. This method tracks a woman’s natural and unique signs of fertility and infertility each day based on observation of sensation as well as cervical mucus. Patterns of fertility and infertility are identified and four simple rules are applied within the woman’s cycle based on the couple’s desire to achieve or postpone pregnancy. 

You will learn an introduction of the method, how to understand and interpret your fertility, and charting basics over the course of three sessions each space roughly a month apart.  In these sessions a certified Billings Ovulation Method Instructor will guide you in understanding your individual fertility and recognizing patterns of fertility and infertility.

Additional follow-ups after the initial three may be scheduled upon request and are offered throughout a woman’s reproductive years.

The Couple to Couple League (CCL) teaches a “Sympto-Thermal Method” (STM) of NFP. The STM utilizes observations similar to the major mucus-only methods, but combines it with a temperature sign to paint a more complete picture of your fertility each month. The Couple to Couple League’s Sympto-Thermal Method has a method effectiveness of 99.6%.
 
Classes are taught by a Certified Teaching Couple who has gone through extensive training to become certified to teach the method. All CCL Teaching Couples are volunteers who teach NFP only because they love to see people’s lives changed through its use, not for any payment or monetary benefit. 

Classes will include the science behind fertility and Natural Family Planning, the basis of the Sympto-Thermal Method, application of the method in real-life, discussion on human sexuality and theology, and the personal experience of the Teaching Couple in practicing NFP. Classes meet three times, each roughly a month apart.

The Creighton Model FertilityCare System (CrMS) is based on a woman’s observation and tracking of biological markers that are present when she is fertile. These markers undergo a progressive change throughout the cycle and are easy to learn, observe and interpret. This is a mucus only method with no internal examinations, calendars, or test strips involved. CrMS and FertilityCare work with nature, offering:

• Family Planning
• Infertility Solutions
• Alternatives to IVF
• Women’s Health

Additionally, couples that learn the method will be assisted in growing in respect and appreciation for one another and their future family.

Women's Health Issues

Utilizing the Creighton Model can help identify biomarkers that may indicate a number of abnormalities in a woman's cycle, such as low progesterone, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), hormone problems, PMS symptoms, recurrent miscarriage, and others.

The Marquette Model (MM) system of NFP brings 21st century technology to NFP by using the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor, a device used at home which measures hormone levels in urine to estimate the beginning and end of the time of fertility in a women's menstrual cycle. The information from the monitor can be used in conjunction with observations of cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or other biological indicators of fertility. The MM was developed by professional nurses and physicians at Marquette University in the late 1990s, and it continues to be taught only by qualified healthcare professionals today.  A recent (2007) study published in the Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing demonstrated a 97-98% efficacy of the MM in avoiding pregnancy when taught by a qualified teacher and correctly applied.