When is the target when using NFP?

[Pedro_1987]

If one is not trying to have children, what is the target time for sex while in marriage? When shouldn’t one have sex if they don’t want children? About how long after she bleeds should one wait?

 

[Xantippe]

If one is not trying to have children, what is the target time for sex while in marriage? When shouldn’t one have sex if they don’t want children? About how long after she bleeds should one wait?

How about reading either The Art of NFP or Taking Charge of Your Fertility? The latter is a secular book, so it offers the option of using barrier methods, but it’s otherwise very popular on CAF for explaining how things work. There are also other methods (for instance, using fertility monitors), but that’s a good start.

Modern NFP is not calendar-based, but reflects ongoing changes in the woman’s fertility signs.

 

[pensmama87]

How about reading either The Art of NFP or Taking Charge of Your Fertility? The latter is a secular book, so it offers the option of using barrier methods, but it’s otherwise very popular on CAF for explaining how things work. There are also other methods (for instance, using fertility monitors), but that’s a good start.

Modern NFP is not calendar-based, but reflects ongoing changes in the woman’s fertility signs.

Right.

So if you’re trying to avoid conception, you abstain on days that indicate fertility, based on the observable signs. For women whose fertility is a little more ambiguous, or in situations where avoiding conception is really, really important (say, a health issue), then you’re probably going to be even more conservative with it. One common approach with those issues is to abstain from menstruation until after ovulation is known to have occurred. That’s more abstinence, but it’s also a surer thing.

Some women have clearer signals or avoiding is not as important so they do have a few days before ovulation that are OK, but that varies from woman to woman and cycle to cycle. Generally, as couples continue to do it they get better at knowing the woman’s body and how to observe her particular signals. I know I’ve seen it recommended with some methods that a woman learn it before marriage, so she can become familiar while she’s already practicing abstinence.

 

[Xantippe]

Right.

So if you’re trying to avoid conception, you abstain on days that indicate fertility, based on the observable signs. For women whose fertility is a little more ambiguous, or in situations where avoiding conception is really, really important (say, a health issue), then you’re probably going to be even more conservative with it. One common approach with those issues is to abstain from menstruation until after ovulation is known to have occurred. That’s more abstinence, but it’s also a surer thing.

Some women have clearer signals or avoiding is not as important so they do have a few days before ovulation that are OK, but that varies from woman to woman and cycle to cycle. Generally, as couples continue to do it they get better at knowing the woman’s body and how to observe her particular signals. I know I’ve seen it recommended with some methods that a woman learn it before marriage, so she can become familiar while she’s already practicing abstinence.

Yes, the more cycles of data available before marriage, the better. (Although 6 cycles is probably good enough.)

 

[1ke]

If one is not trying to have children, what is the target time for sex while in marriage? When shouldn’t one have sex if they don’t want children? About how long after she bleeds should one wait?

Please take a class. We cannot answer that question as it is specific to each couple.

 

[Xantippe]

Also, postpartum and breastfeeding NFP is tricky and confusing, even for people that have a good track record with standard NFP.

If your wife is postpartum and doesn’t have regular cycles yet, please seek help from an NFP teacher to walk you through the process.

Good luck!

 

[Allegra]

Each woman is different and for many, each cycle can be different. NFP works by watching biological signs that indicate fertility. It has nothing to do with counting days. Most women have about five to nine days where they abstain, but how many days after she starts bleeding can differ a great deal.

 

[Kelfa28]

Every woman is different.

To start dictating when, during a cycle, is a safe time to be intimate is to tread into “calendar method” territory.

You’ll only know when you do your own research, read some books, take a class and start following her charts.

 

[geekborj]

If one is not trying to have children, what is the target time for sex while in marriage? When shouldn’t one have sex if they don’t want children? About how long after she bleeds should one wait?

NFP under the Catholic Faith is more of virtues, specifically self-control and therefore temperance. Grace is utmost needed in this regard and we get to have it’s constant supply and “maintenance” via the sacraments of reconciliation (Confession + Penance) and the eucharist (Mass + Communion). Of course with intense prayer!

Therefore, NFP is NOT applicable for couples who “don’t want children” per se. But is applicable for those parent, while accepting the possibility of having children, wishes to postpone having a child. This does mean therefore that whenever any planning did not work as intended, the resulting child is not “un-intended” or “unplanned” rather accepted with humility and great reverence with thanksgiving in the trust that God placed in their hands.

The last question cannot be answered easily because each woman is indeed unique and the Church respects that. The couple is encouraged to communicate this well so that small details can be known to both parties as they help together in going through the continence in obedience to the Will of God.

Nevertheless, if the woman is regular, the most fertile day is usually about 10-17 days BEFORE the next start of bleeding (menstrual flow). Thus, the counting is usually NOT AFTER but rather before. In any case, this is not the manner for NFP because NFP is a method of knowing ON THE FLY whether a woman is fertile or not. NFP is not prediction. NFP is taking note of the indicators of fertility AS IT HAPPENS.

 

[Kelfa28]

Thus, the counting is usually NOT AFTER but rather before. In any case, this is not the manner for NFP because NFP is a method of knowing ON THE FLY whether a woman is fertile or not. NFP is not prediction. NFP is taking note of the indicators of fertility AS IT HAPPENS.

Great post and it couldn’t be more accurate.

Not only is every woman different but each individual cycle is different.

That was one of the reasons why I got unexpectedly pregnant a third time when we were trying to avoid.

I had a weird cycle that month that was exceptionally difficult to interpret. We made a mistake with the interpretation and…that was all it took.

You cannot interpret a few months of signs and then start making assumptions. Things change, life changes and you might have an irregular month.