NFP - Is it the only Non-ABC Method accepted by the Church?

[Denise_Shae]

I hope I have the correct forum for this.

I’ve been reading over these forums for quite some time.
I notice that NFP seems to be the only method, discussed, regarding Non-Artificial BC.

My question is this: Is NFP the only form of Non-Artificial BC accepted by the Catholic Church? (Abstinence not withstanding)

Thanks and God Bless!

 

[Seatuck]

Couples wishing to space births for serious reasons may use one several NFP methods or leave it up to the providence of God to do the spacing(which basically means don’t think about it and accept the children that God sends.) No other methods are acceptable .

nccbuscc.org/prolife/issues/nfp/

 

[vluvski]

I know of several different methods of NFP.

1. Symtothermal method. Taught by CCL as well as various other groups, including the Dioc. of Baltimore.
2. Creighton. A highly scientific, medical, nurse-trained mucus-only method developed by Dr. Hilgers. Preferred diagnostic tool used by Pope Paul VI Institute where he works.
3. Billings Ovulation Method. Another mucus only method
4. Temperature-only, not sure what it is called officially
5. Calendar/Rhythm/Vatican Roulette. The method most non-Catholics and pro-ABC folks assume when NFP is mentioned. Only 70% effective, relies only on historical length of cycle to estimate fertile time. Has not been taught or promoted since the '30s.

 

[1ke]

I hope I have the correct forum for this.

I’ve been reading over these forums for quite some time.
I notice that NFP seems to be the only method, discussed, regarding Non-Artificial BC.

My question is this: Is NFP the only form of Non-Artificial BC accepted by the Catholic Church? (Abstinence not withstanding)

Thanks and God Bless!

NFP is not actually a method of birth control. NFP is only information. It’s a group of methods of fertility awareness each of which allows you to observe a woman’s cycle and know if she is fertile or not at any given time.

You can use NFP to avoid pregnancy or achieve pregnancy by determining what to do with the information-- whether or not to have intercourse on a particular day.

As an alternative to full abstinence, NFP information is useful-- but abstinence is actually the only way to postpone pregnancy for a just reason. Each couple must discern their particular situation and determine how much, and whether, to abstain.

Spacing between children can also be achieved through the natural infertility a woman experiences with ecological breastfeeding.

 

[Denise_Shae]

Couples wishing to space births for serious reasons may use one several NFP methods or leave it up to the providence of God to do the spacing(which basically means don’t think about it and accept the children that God sends.) No other methods are acceptable .

nccbuscc.org/prolife/issues/nfp/

Thanks for your reply, Seatuck.

Due to illness and strong medications, I’ve been using info. I got from my College Biology text book, for the past 16 years. (I have two great kids - 20 & 16)

The book was very accurate with regards to when a woman can conceive. (Actually, down to the day)
In fact, I used it to conceive my children.

I automatically assumed any method that doesn’t use any type of ABC was considered part of NFP. It was only when I came here that I realized NFP was an actual program of sorts.

I’m gonna’ have to talk to my Confessor.

Thanks again for your reply and the link.

God Bless!

 

[1ke]

Thanks for your reply, Seatuck.

Due to illness and strong medications, I’ve been using info. I got from my College Biology text book, for the past 16 years. (I have two great kids - 20 & 16)

The book was very accurate with regards to when a woman can conceive. (Actually, down to the day)
In fact, I used it to conceive my children.

I automatically assumed any method that doesn’t use any type of ABC was considered part of NFP. It was only when I came here that I realized NFP was an actual program of sorts.

I’m gonna’ have to talk to my Confessor.

Thanks again for your reply and the link.

God Bless!

The various methods of NFP all revolve around observing the female signs of fertility-- mucus, temperature, and cervical position. Sounds like you were doing something similar, perhaps a little more “rhythm” method than scientific NFP, but definitely nothing sinful if all you were doing was deciding when to have intercourse or when to abstain.

 

[Denise_Shae]

I know of several different methods of NFP.

1. Symtothermal method. Taught by CCL as well as various other groups, including the Dioc. of Baltimore.
2. Creighton. A highly scientific, medical, nurse-trained mucus-only method developed by Dr. Hilgers. Preferred diagnostic tool used by Pope Paul VI Institute where he works.
3. Billings Ovulation Method. Another mucus only method
4. Temperature-only, not sure what it is called officially
5. Calendar/Rhythm/Vatican Roulette. The method most non-Catholics and pro-ABC folks assume when NFP is mentioned. Only 70% effective, relies only on historical length of cycle to estimate fertile time. Has not been taught or promoted since the '30s.

Hi vluvski,

#5 sounds a lot like my old Biology book. One must keep track of a woman’s cycle, using a calendar.
Except, as my second post states; the accuracy is very good. Much higher than 70%.
“Vatican Roulette” - I do not like that term at all. Sounds derogatory.

Thanks and God Bless!

 

[vluvski]

I know, I do not like Vatican Roulette either; I used it simply for name recognition.

Your understanding of the Church’s disapproval of ABC sounds correct. The method you describe sounds perfectly acceptable, but do discuss it with your priest. Perhaps he can provide some insight we haven’t.

As for the effectiveness, I can’t recall where I got that figure of 70%. Sounds like it was 100% effective in your case. Obviously it’s a lot more effective for women with regular periods. Most formal NFP programs will inform participants about the method simply to arm them with information when people question them about “the rhythm method.”

One thing I will point out, however, is that determining when the woman can convceive is only half the avoid or achieve equation. Depending on the environment within the woman’s body (particularly the pH), sperm have been shown to survive up to 8 days, sometimes inexplicably longer. Even if you can determine to the day when you ovulate (difficult even when you are attentive to all your symptoms), you still need to know if the conditions are “comfy” for the sperm to survive until ovulation.

 

[Denise_Shae]

The various methods of NFP all revolve around observing the female signs of fertility-- mucus, temperature, and cervical position. Sounds like you were doing something similar, perhaps a little more “rhythm” method than scientific NFP, but definitely nothing sinful if all you were doing was deciding when to have intercourse or when to abstain.

Hi 1ke,

When I came back to the Church, I spoke with one of my priests (who is, now, one of my dearest friends) about ABC. I had the same mindset as a lot of people regarding the Church’s teaching on ABC. “Man made law”, and all that.
But the more I learned about our Faith, the more I realized it was a very serious sin.
I was very worried, because of the meds. I was taking. Damage to the unborn baby was high.
Father told me, “Trust in the Lord, Denise”.
Well, I did. I got my Biology book out again, just to double check, and that’s the method we’ve been practicing ever since.

If God decides He wants me to have another child; His Will be done. I trust in the Lord, and I know He’ll provide for us no matter what.
I’m against ABC and refuse to even contemplate it.

I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing wrong (committing Mortal sin) by using the method we’ve been using all this time.

Thanks and God Bless you, 1ke!

 

[Denise_Shae]

I know, I do not like Vatican Roulette either; I used it simply for name recognition.

Your understanding of the Church’s disapproval of ABC sounds correct. The method you describe sounds perfectly acceptable, but do discuss it with your priest. Perhaps he can provide some insight we haven’t.

As for the effectiveness, I can’t recall where I got that figure of 70%. Sounds like it was 100% effective in your case. Obviously it’s a lot more effective for women with regular periods. Most formal NFP programs will inform participants about the method simply to arm them with information when people question them about “the rhythm method.”

One thing I will point out, however, is that determining when the woman can convceive is only half the avoid or achieve equation. Depending on the environment within the woman’s body (particularly the pH), sperm have been shown to survive up to 8 days, sometimes inexplicably longer. Even if you can determine to the day when you ovulate (difficult even when you are attentive to all your symptoms), you still need to know if the conditions are “comfy” for the sperm to survive until ovulation.

I know, I do not like Vatican Roulette either; I used it simply for name recognition.

I know. I was just thinking/typing out loud.

One thing I will point out, however, is that determining when the woman can convceive is only half the avoid or achieve equation. Depending on the environment within the woman’s body (particularly the pH), sperm have been shown to survive up to 8 days, sometimes inexplicably longer.

Now, THAT, my Biology book failed to mention.
That’s why I could never understand why people complained so much about having to abstain so many days with NFP.
I thought they were just nit-picking

Thanks for enlightening me to this fact.

God Bless!

 

[manualman]

Just a note. I haven’t heard of the 8 days figure before, but as a student of the Billing method, it is my understanding that sperm cannot survive more than about ONE day in the absence of fertile mucus inside the woman. The 8 days seems possible only if intercourse occurred on the very first day when fertile mucus appeared. Even that seems a stretch though. (Though I conceded a data point of just ONE woman’s cycle patterns!

 

[Mommyof02green]

Just a note. I haven’t heard of the 8 days figure before, but as a student of the Billing method, it is my understanding that sperm cannot survive more than about ONE day in the absence of fertile mucus inside the woman. The 8 days seems possible only if intercourse occurred on the very first day when fertile mucus appeared. Even that seems a stretch though. (Though I conceded a data point of just ONE woman’s cycle patterns!

8 days is news to me… my understanding has always been 1-3 days.

 

[vluvski]

The eight days is the exception, not the rule. The fertile mucus would have to have been present from the time of intercourse up until ovulation and fertilization a week later.

1-3 days is certainly a more typical survival time.

 

[Denise_Shae]

Just a note. I haven’t heard of the 8 days figure before, but as a student of the Billing method, it is my understanding that sperm cannot survive more than about ONE day in the absence of fertile mucus inside the woman. The 8 days seems possible only if intercourse occurred on the very first day when fertile mucus appeared. Even that seems a stretch though. (Though I conceded a data point of just ONE woman’s cycle patterns!

Actually, now that I think back on it; I did hear something about the eight day “sperm survival” period, but since I couldn’t validate the source, I stuck with my Biology book’s info. about a woman only being able to conceive one day out of her cycle.
Of course, Science isn’t infallible, so if God wills that I have another child, so be it.
Side Note: Should that occur, I would never agree to an Amnio.
Thanks to all who posted here!