2. Fertility Awareness and Natural Family Planning Observing one or more of the body’s natural signs of fertility, and… making couple decisions about whether or not to achieve a pregnancy — on that basis.

3. A Method of Merit Medically safe Highly reliable Inexpensive True family planning A shared method Consistent with all religious traditions

4. NFP Can Be Successfully Used... Regular cycles Non-typical cycles Breastfeeding Peri-menopause In cases of apparent infertility For self-knowledge

5. Couple Fertility Male Fertility is constant Female Fertility is in cycles Sperm Cervical Mucus + Egg

6. Signs Fertility mucus Basal body temperature

7. Ovulation and the Role of Cervical Mucus Ovulation is the release of the egg cell. It occurs on one day each cycle. The egg cell lives only 12 to 24 hours. Sperm need cervical mucus to survive. Without it they die within hours. With good cervical mucus, sperm can live 3 to 5 days.

8. Progesterone Type Mucus Estrogen Type Mucus Cervical Mucus Fertile TimeInfertile Time

9. Process of Conception Fallopian Tube Conception Yellow Body Mucus (helps sperm to live) Vagina Cervix Uterus

10. Hormones Testosterone LH FSH Male Hormone Pattern Female Hormone Pattern LH Progesterone Estrogen FSH Blood Levels

11. Woman’s Hormonal Sequence Progesterone Estrogen LH FSH

12. Impact of Progesterone 1. Prevents Ovulation Yellow Body Progesterone 3. Mucus Plug 2. Temperature Rises & Stays High 4. Enriches Uterine Lining

13. Each Cycle Has 3 Phases Onset of True Menses Start of Fertility 3 rd High Temp Peak Day Possibly Fertile Time Relatively Infertile Time Completely Infertile Time

14. Tissue-Dry:Ø Sticky Mucus:M Traits: P, O, ¼, ½, ¾. Egg-White Mucus:EW-M Traits: 1, OT, T, G. Tissue Symbols

15. EWMMØ Ø

16. Peak Day EWMMØØ d mMmM L mMmM d

17. Sample Chart PK 6 54 32 1

18. Possibly Fertile Time

19. Implantation Process

20. Achieving Pregnancy

21. Identifying Pregnancy

22. Unborn Child Unborn child at 14 weeks

23. Temperature Pattern

24. Let’s Say Peak Day Is Here… PK

25. Watch for 3 Temperatures in a Row…

26. To separate the “initial” highs from the “final” lows 6 5 4 3 2 1

27. Full Thermal Shift Level is 0.4°F above the PRB PRB 6 5 4 3 2 1 FTSL.4°F *FTSL = 0.36° F/0.2° C

28. PK 6 5 4 3 2 1 PRB FTSL.4° F

29. Completely Infertile Time

30. Post-Ovulatory Phase Constant Last day of Menstrual Cycle 2 weeks Ovulation 23 Days 28 Days 32 Days Before Ovulation After Ovulation When does ovulation occur?

31. Range of Ovulation

32. Surprise Pregnancy?

33. The Periodic Abstinence Question Intimacy is more than genital expression. It’s typically 8 to 12 days per cycle. The Spontaneity Myth.

34. Availability of Intercourse Anytime End of day

35. Understanding Bleeding

37. Two Major Concerns About NFP Livability How well does it work? Is periodic abstinence possible?

38. Definitions Method Effectiveness Rules are correctly understood and followed Use Effectiveness Actual use including misunderstanding and carelessness

39. NFP Effectiveness Method Effectiveness – 97-99+ percent Use Effectiveness – 90-99+ percent

40. Use Effectiveness of NFP Depends Upon… Course of instruction with follow-up Consistent and correct charting Knowing and following the rules especially complete abstinence from all genital contact

41. Reasons for Using NFP

42. How can Priests promote the Church’s moral teaching on NFP? Maintain prayer life. Preach NFP from the pulpit. Educate in confession. Provide NFP Intro Course to your married and engaged couples. Introduce NFP to adult converts in the RCIA program Educate Pro Life Ministry