On this page a brief comment on the effectiveness of natural family planning in avoiding pregnancy is given and further information is available by clicking on the topics listed below.
How Effective is Natural Family Plannning in avoiding pregnancy ?
No method of fertility regulation whether natural or artificial is 100% effective in avoiding pregnancy other than castration or total abstinence. Natural family plannning (NFP) is the only method of fertility regulation that can be used both to achieve pregnancy and to avoid pregnancy.
For those who wish to avoid pregnancy the Symptothermal Double-Check Method of Natural Family Planning is 98.2% effective when clients are motivated, have been properly taught and adhere to the Rules of the NFP Method.(1)
Natural Family Planning is as effective as the contraceptive pill and the IUD in pregnancy avoidance.(2) (Link to Table 4-2 comparison of NFP with other methods).
The efficiency and accuracy of natural family planning is greatest when the woman or couple are instructed by a qualified NFP teacher as each woman is different. Everyone needs a trained teacher to help them interpret the signs of fertility.
1 Frank-Hermann P.et al; The effectiveness of a fertility awareness based method to avoid pregnancy in relation to a couple’s sexual behaviour during the fertile time : a prospective longitudinal study; Human Reproduction, Feb 2007; p1-10 (on internet)
2 Freundl G.; Prospective European multi-center study of natural family planning (1989-1992): interim results; Advances in Contraception; 1993, 9, 269-283
- How to Measure the Effectiveness of Family Planning Methods (4a)
- How effective is NFP in avoiding pregnancy ? (4b)
- Factors that influence the effectiveness of natural family planning in avoiding pregnancy (4d)
To be most effective, the woman must be taught the symptothermal double-check method of Natural Family Planning by a qualified natural family planning teacher.