'Married love requires of husband and wife the full awareness of their obligations in the matter of responsible parenthood, which today, rightly enough, is much insisted upon, but which at the same time must be rightly understood… The exercise of responsible parenthood requires that husband and wife, keeping a right order of priorities, recognize their own duties towards God, themselves, their families and human society’
(Amoris Laetitia, § 68)
This page is provided for couples who are trying to learn about their fertility in order to achieve, delay or avoid pregnancy. It promotes shared responsibility. The Church teaches that understanding and practicing the principles of natural fertility, or Natural Family Planning (NFP) is the only legitimate approach. This respects God's design for married love.
“The use of methods based on the ‘laws of nature and the incidence of fertility’ (Humanae Vitae, 11) are to be promoted, since ‘these methods respect the bodies of the spouses, encourage tenderness between them and favour the education of an authentic freedom’ (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2370). Greater emphasis needs to be placed on the fact that children are a wonderful gift from God and a joy for parents and the Church. Through them, the Lord renews the world”
(Amoris Laetitia, § 222b)
Natural vs Artificial Contraception
In a Catholic marriage the couple are asked the question, 'Are you prepared to accept children lovingly from God?'.
Contraception separates life from love as, its primary purpose is to avoid pregnancy. Natural Family Planning fundamentally seeks to keep life and love together; it seeks to both achieve pregnancy and avoid pregnancy, depending on the timing of sex within a woman’s natural cycle.
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a natural, healthy and effective method which unites husband and wife in the shared responsibility of creating and caring for their family. Research has shown that NFP is beneficial to a couple's self-knowledge, couple communication, and satisfaction with the frequency of sexual intercourse.
NFP enables couples to reliably differentiate between a fertile day and a non-fertile day and enables spouses to live and love in harmony with the teachings of the Church. It is also highly effective in helping couples achieve pregnancy and has been successful in enabling a third of couples who struggle with fertility issues to conceive.
The methods are easy to learn and with no harmful side effects, they are embryo-friendly and result in fewer divorces, due to the mutual understanding and joint responsibility that NFP couples practice with increased use.
For information on achieving, delaying or avoiding pregnancy we have provided the following links for you to explore. These modern methods are extremely effective
Billings Method England. Using the body’s natural signal of fertility to achieve or avoid pregnancy and to safeguard your reproductive health.
The Couple to Couple League in Great Britain. CCL has been teaching the Symptothermal Method of NFP for 40 years internationally, and for 30 years in the UK.
Natural Fertility Matters. Natural Family Planning, infertility treatment & women’s health services.
Natural Family Planning Website for teachers but also for those couples who are trying to learn about their fertility in order to achieve or avoid pregnancy.
If you are struggling to conceive with charting alone, please visit the websites below.
Napro Technology Natural Procreative Technology has provided a major breakthrough in monitoring and maintaining a Woman's Reproductive and Gynecological Health.
For information on Napro Technology England please email the Catholic Medical Association (UK) secretary@catholicmedicalassociation.org.uk
Life Fertility Care -The Life Fertility Care programme promotes and supports reproductive health and fertility.