Stopped Pill, Want to try NFP

Question

My wife and I have a 6 1/2 month old daughter. My wife was on the pill before having our daughter. She started taking the pill again after her six week check up but due to the side effects we are going to try using NFP. I am a strong supporter of NFP and believe it is God’s will. She is a little worried about the effectiveness and concerned that with her irregular cycle it may be hard to use. Also she has not had a period since coming off the pill, almost four months now. Her doctor says that she should get an IUD, but that is not what we want to do.

What are your suggestions?

Thank you, Jeremy

Answer

Last Updated: October 31, 2023

Dear Jeremy,

Since the IUD can cause an abortion, I am sure that is not a choice for you. There is a saying: “The woman observes, the man supports, the couple uses”. With use of NFP and your support her confidence will grow.

When my husband and I first started it took us only a few cycles before our confidence level was equal to our pill usage. NFP is just as effective as the contraceptive pill, without the medical side effects and is morally acceptable. In addition, it can be used with irregular cycle with great success. By seeking a certified NFP instructor, attending the required classes and following the instructions to avoid a pregnancy, you will have the support necessary to develop your confidence.

May the Lord support you in this decision.

Winnie Neill

This response reviewed (and updated if indicated) 10/31/23

Answered By:

Winnie Neill, CFCP
Winnie Neill, a Professional Member of CANFP, is a certified FertilityCare Practitioner, and taught NFP 23 years in the Sacramento region. She served on the Sacramento Diocese NFP Advisory Board, the American Academy of NFP Board and the CANFP Executive Board. She and her husband Bob have been married 63 years

Read more related questions

Yellow Stamp Question

Hello, I am six months post-partum, and my Creighton Model instructor just recently moved me to yellow stamps because I am having consistent mucus discharge.…

How Do We Use NFP While Breastfeeding?

My wife and I would like to know how to successfully practice NFP during the nursing phase. We have been in NFP for six+ years…

Want to Use NFP, But Fearful if it Will Work for Me?

Hello I was referred to this website from my parish pastor. I am confused regarding birth control. I understand it is not approved by the…

Need Postpartum NFP Refresher

My name is Amanda and my husband and I are devout Catholics looking into starting NFP. I have 15-month-old boy/girl twins and just had another…

Is My Temp Accurate After Poor Sleep?

I am a breastfeeding mom of a 5 1/2 month old baby who just started rice cereal a week ago. I go to school full-time…

Am I Officially in Menopause?

I am 53 and have not had a period in 205 days (the one I had was very light bleeding). My temperature has not exceeded…

Continuous Mucus Post Partum

Hi, I am a fairly new user of NFP. I had my second baby six weeks ago and have been breastfeeding exclusively. For the past…

Can I Still Trust Temp in my 50’s

For 16 years I have been able to rely totally on my basal temperature for effective NFP. As I near 50, I am concerned peri-menopause…

No Mucus But Cervix High

I have a three month old son, and still trying to figure out how to practice NFP postpartum. I have been doing mucus checks and…

Temp is Behaving Oddly

My husband and I have been practicing NFP for about 2.5 years now, since we married, and the last few months we have been actively…

Cervix Position Confusing Me

How important is the cervix in interpreting your chart for Phase 3? My last chart had the following temps… 97.1 97.2 97.1 S 97.6 S…

45 and Heavy Periods

I’m a 45 year old mother of six. My husband and I practice NFP. For a long time, my periods have been very heavy and…

Create An Account

This is not a membership, this is an account for our CANFP website. If you decide you would like to sign up for one of our memberships later, you can do so with or without this account.

First Name *
Last Name *
E-mail *
Username *
Password *
Confirm Password *
Edit Profile
Information
Subscriptions
Payments
Order History
Downloads
Shipping and Billing
Donations
Settings
Login Information
Notification Settings
Notification Subscriptions
Profile

CANFP conducts varied outreach programs to the community at large, in addition to serving our members (NFP users, teachers, and advocates).

CANFP provides education programs tailored to the audience, not only on Natural Family Planning, but on the wide variety of topics related to it.

Programs can be continuing education for NFP Professionals, introductory information for a lay audience of youth or adults new to the topic, or specifically tailored to the interests of a professional audience, such as educators, physicians, or clergy. Content is faith based or secular, whichever is suitable for situation.

CANFP offers a variety of resources for those just discovering Natural Family Planning, as well as to meet the varied needs of our CANFP Members. Most resources are available to any visitors to our site. Some resources do ask you to register as a site user in order to access them, others are available only to CANFP Members.

CANFP statewide conferences, regional events offered in collaboration with local partners, events featuring CANFP speakers, or exhbit, as well as other events throughout the state of interest to our NFP community.  Come meet one of our experts at one of these events or book a speaker for your own upcoming event.

CANFP depends on the gifts, talents, and generosity of our members and supporters. The success of our mission depends on the collaboration of our members. Please consider contributing your time treasure and talent through CANFP to share the good news of NFP with the world! Both volunteer and contracted positions available.

Stay informed by joining our email list

* indicates required
Which role(s) best describes you?