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Natural Family Planning

By Shel Franco

Kathy McConnell, of Baltimore, Md., and her husband chose Natural Family Planning, in part because of their religious beliefs. Once they received instruction, McConnell, whose menstrual cycles were always irregular, enjoyed more benefits than simply pregnancy protection. "I can be absolutely clear when I will get my period. Counting from ovulation is exact once you figure out your own body's cycle," she says.

Not only was McConnell satisfying her religious beliefs, she was also keeping her body free from hormones and chemicals. Most of all, McConnell was learning valuable information about her body – information that actually helped her get pregnant.

"We conceived our first child using NFP. I knew that if we had sex on a certain night, the likely hood [of getting pregnant] was great," McConnell explains.

Another advantage is that Natural Family Planning opens the doors of communication. Birth control becomes the responsibility of both partners, since the results of charting must be discussed, and the couple must decide whether or not to engage in romantic encounters at that time.

Natural Family Planning is economical. Instruction is available through local churches and fees are usualy negotiable if money is tight. The special thermometers can be purchased online for $10.00. After that, an inexpensive book of charts is all you need to follow the program.

Want to see more?

• The Facts on Foam
• The Inside Scoop on IUDs
• Cover Up! Are Condoms For You?
• Popping the Pill
• Deciding on Diaphragms
• The Results are In! What is Your Preferred Method of Birth Control?