July 24th-30th is Natural Family Planning (NFP) week. NFP helps married couples plan the size of their families and empowers them to take charge of their lives.

Through Natural Family Planning couples can identify the fertile and infertile phases in the woman’s menstrual cycle. Natural Family Planning is medically safe and regulates fertility naturally. It does not use potentially harmful drugs, devices or surgeries that alter the reproductive system and can cause dangerous side effects. Because women become more aware of their unique menstrual cycle with this method, they can also detect irregularities that signal serious medical problems.

Today’s Natural Family Planning methods are accurate and precise. They have been developed by medical researchers who have a comprehensive understanding of human biology and fertility.

For the Catholic Church, Natural Family Planning is much more than a practical tool married couples can use to space births. It is an integral part of the church’s teachings on human sexuality, conjugal love and parenthood.

It is extremely important that couples learn Natural Family Planning with a certified teacher or teacher couple. Certified teachers provide individual and classroom instruction in locations throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Cost varies according to method and teacher. For a list of local teachers, please take a pamphlet (English or Spanish) from the tables near the main entrance doors of the church or call the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, Office of Family Life, 213-637-7228.