On Natural Family Planning

"What exactly is Natural Family Planning and how is that better than using the above [contraception]."

Natural family planning, in basic terms, is a means of spacing out the birth of children using methods that are natural instead of artificial, part of our sexual reproductive nature, more respectful of our human persons, open to life consistently and involves a higher discipline and love. I would say it is better for all of the above, and this is why:

When I say that the methods are natural, instead of artificial, I mean that there is nothing involved in the process save the married couple themselves. Nothing foreign is inserted into the relationship to try and keep procreation from occurring. No pills, no condoms, no surgeries, no spermicides, etc. Nothing artificial comes between the two people, no barriers are present, no forced with-holding during the sexual act occurs. Natural family planning also does not follow a mere calendar in regards to a woman's fertility, it's not like you have sex during two weeks of the month and you don't have sex the other two weeks, which would be a fairly faulty system.

What it does involve is both the husband and the wife learning a lot more about their bodies and their reproductive nature, and working with each other instead of just erecting barriers between themselves. Natural Family Planning simply will not work if there is a lack of respect between a couple, or a lack of closeness or interest. It will not work with a lazy love. Instead, the couple must both actively study their bodies and know when they are most fertile and least fertile, using means that are scientifically proven and again natural, like the quality of vaginal mucus. I have heard that learning and following the NFP system brings husbands and wives closer together, and I believe it. It involves a far greater degree of mutual understanding than any artificial form of birth control.

NFP also involves the practice of abstinence, instead of barriers or other artificial contraceptives. So during those periods when use of NFP methods has brought the couple to be aware that they would be most likely to conceive, they abstain from sexual intercourse. This is where a lot of people have a problem with NFP, they do not want to abstain. But abstinence as a sacrifice for the person you love has a lot of merit, any sacrifice for love does. It shows a depth of commitment, and a strong will for the other's good. This is also, by the way, part of the reason why the Church only allows for the practice of NFP when the couple has grave reasons for not wanting to have a child at that time, like a true lack of the resources to provide for him or her. It's only a sacrifice for the other's good if selfish motivations are not present.

Abstinence also promotes more interior discipline, something necessary to every Christian's spiritual life. Discipline better enables us to accept the sufferings of this life that Christ has promised us, and also aids us in performing charity even when our natural inclination or feelings try to steer us away from it. Practices which promote interior discipline (discipline of our inner lives and selves, as opposed to our superficial lives) should never be shied from, and we should always examine what makes us uncomfortable when we come face to face with them and wish to not follow them. Christianity does not, after all, promise an easy life, or one free of trials and pain. Discipline is part of our defense in these instances. If we are shying away from it, we must wonder why, and how we will persist in difficult times if we cannot make sacrifices now.

This is in basic terms how it comprises part of our sexual nature. A woman's period of fertility has certain indicators and lasts a certain amount of time, and the time a man's sperm will remain viable in the uterus also lasts a certain amount of time. As human persons, we have the will to abstain or to have sex, we have a choice. We are not merely animals following rote instinct. Our sexual nature is part of our human nature, and thus intimately connected to our wills, and so to love, our will to bring good.

NFP unites all of these factors through closer union and understanding of each other's sexuality, the practice of abstinence when a woman is more fertile, and closer union in love making when she is less fertile. It takes our sexual nature, and instead of denying it, or separating an aspect, or trying to change it, which all natural contraceptives attempt to do, it embraces them and works within their boundaries. Thus NFP never completely closes the act of love making to the possibility and potential for life. God is never barred, nothing is ever denied by barriers or a refusal to give part of one's self. The system is admittedly not "perfect" as a result, the successful practice of NFP means about a 97% chance of not conceiving, and this perceived imperfection to those who would rather practice artificial forms of conception is actually a sign of its perception to those of us who understand and admit that sexuality is first and foremost about pro-creation, about human beings joining God in the Creative act of new life. We would not deny it, and we proudly admit that NFP is always open to this process. That's really its best point, and why it is acceptable practice at all.

Hopefully that answered your question a bit more fully.