Some forms of artificial contraception are abortifacient- i.e,; they cause abortions, such as IUDs (prevent the embryo from implanting) and birth control pills (approx. 10% of the time, they also prevent implantation).
All forms of birth control block in one way or another the procreative and unitive aspect of the sacramental conjugal marriage act, and so are illicit. The only form of birth control that does NOT is Natural Family Planning, or NFP. It is AS EFFECTIVE as the birth control pill (98%) if used properly, and does not interfere with the marital act. Please see this link for more information: http://ccli.org/nfp
My understanding is that there are roughly 7-8 days a month where pregnancy is likely to occur, so if using NFP to avoid pregnancy, then roughly 25% of days will require the couple to abstain. I just wanted to verify that my understanding was accurate.
Oh, ok. It varies from woman to woman, but I guess if you want a rough estimate, you can use those numbers.
That is the great thing about NFP, that it takes into account each woman’s cycle and characteristics to let you learn about your body, discern God’s will and not put anything in the way of the marital act
Correct. The abstention also lends itself to a feeling of anticipation; of almost a courtship atmosphere. Because NFP causes a “break” in the ‘action’, so to speak, couples tend to 1) focus on each other’s non-sexual needs more; and 2) anticipate and look forward to the time when they can come together again. It’s quite beautiful, really, if done in the spirit of giving/receiving and not ‘getting some’. If you know what I mean.
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