NFP classes provided by the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston
To support families as they try to faithfully live out their marriage vows, the Archdiocese provides NFP (Natural Family Planning) classes for a variety of methods for a nominal fee. Classes are available in English and Spanish.
Additional NFP Methods
- Billings Ovulation Method
Developed by doctors and used by millions of women around the world. Women are taught to observe sensation at the vulva while going about normal daily activities and to note any visible mucus present while visiting the bathroom, there is no need to touch the mucus. Women use their own vocabulary to describe observations, as each woman's fertility is unique. Four simple rules can be used at any stage of a woman's reproductive life. 99% effectiveness for avoiding conception has been verified in multiple clinical trials. Instruction and private follow up from an accredited instructor strongly recommended.
- Boston Cross-Check Method
The Cross Check method is based on the observation and interpretation of changes in cervical mucus, basal body temperature and includes hormonal monitoring with the Clearplan Fertility Monitor to determine the fertile and infertile phases of the menstrual cycle. This methodology is based on the work of various scientists including Billings, Doering, Roetzer, Vollman, and Fehring. Website
- Couple to Couple League
Also known as Sympto-Thermal MethodCouples learn to monitor 3 signs of fertility: cervical mucus, basal body temperature, and the position of the cervix (optional). In addition to the Sympto-Thermal Method, classes also include basic Catholic theology. Online classes, home study course and charting app available! Supplemental classes for Postpartum and Perimenopause available as well. Excellent consultation service provided at the main CCL office; call 1-800-745-8252 Ext. 1032 with specialties in transition times and 'odd' type cycles. Website
- Marquette Model
Marquette Model
Utilizes the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor, a device used at home which measures hormone levels in urine to estimate the beginning and end of fertility in a women's menstrual cycle. The monitor can be used in conjunction with observations of cervical mucus, basal body temperature, or other biological indicators of fertility. Includes breastfeeding protocols, including for use prior to cycle return. 98-100% effectiveness in research. Instruction from a Marquette Model teacher strongly encouraged. Website
Making decisions about when and how many children to have in marriage is a sacred responsibility that God has entrusted to a husband and wife. This is the foundation of what the Church calls "Responsible Parenthood"- the call to discern God's will for your marriage while respecting His design for life and love. The Catholic Church supports the methods of Natural Family Planning (NFP) because they respect God's design for married love. In fact, NFP represents the only authentic approach to family planning available to husbands and wives because these methods can be used to both attempt or avoid pregnancy.
Additional Resources
Church Documents
Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)
Familiaris Consortio (The Role of the Christian Family in the Modern World)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Natural Family Planning?
Natural family planning is a general name for the methods of family planning that are based on a woman’s menstrual cycle. A man is fertile throughout his life, while a woman is fertile for only a few days each cycle during the child-bearing years. A woman experiences clear, observable signs indicating when she is fertile and when she is infertile. Learning to observe and understand these signs is at the heart of education in natural family planning.
- Are couples expected to leave their family size entirely to chance?
Certainly not. The Church teaches that a couple may generously decide to have a large family, or may for serious reasons choose not to have more children for the time being or even for an indefinite period (“Humanae Vitae,” 10).
- What should a couple do if they have a good reason to avoid having a child?
A married couple can engage in marital intimacy during the naturally infertile times in a woman’s cycle, or after child-bearing years, without violating the meaning of marital intercourse in any way. This is the principle behind natural family planning. Natural methods of family planning involve fertility education that enables couples to cooperate with the body as God designed it.
- Is there really a difference between using contraception and practicing natural family planning?
On the surface, there may seem to be little difference. But the end result is not the only thing that matters, and the way we get to that result may make an enormous moral difference. When couples use contraception, either physical or chemical, they suppress their fertility, asserting that they alone have ultimate control over this power to create a new human life. With NFP, spouses respect God’s design for life and love.