By Val and Deacon Gary Streff
Special to the Herald
Natural family planning has come a long way since its origins in the early 20th century as the “rhythm method.”
In this method of birth control, a woman tracks her fertility signs to determine when during her normal menstrual cycle she is most likely to conceive.
In the 1930s, Father William Hillebrand — a German priest from a family of physicians — applied a biological, science-based approach to the rhythm method, and eventually it became known as natural family planning, or NFP.
In his 1968 encyclical “Humanae Vitae,” Pope Paul VI emphasized that NFP aligns with God’s design for life and love as compared to artificial contraception on the moral principle that artificial birth control separates the unitive and procreative aspects of the conjugal act — the intended result of marital love. In later years, Pope John Paul II concurred with and reaffirmed Pope Paul VI’s teachings.
NFP now incorporates several methods. Two of the most popular are the Billings method and the Creighton Model method.
(In the Diocese of Honolulu, contact Teresa Federickson at (808) 224-2765 to learn more about the Billings method. To learn more about the Creighton Model method, visit MyCatholicDoctor.com for information and to find a practitioner via telehealth.)
A modern approach to birth control was officially coined in 1991: NaPro technology, or Natural Procreative technology, which builds upon the Creighton Model.
What is NaPro?
According to MyCatholicDoctor.com, NaPro technology is a specific approach to diagnosing and treating reproductive disorders in women’s health. Its protocol includes surgical, medical, nutritional, supplemental, medication and lifestyle changes.
NaPro physicians are trained and certified by the Saint Paul VI Institute in Omaha, Nebraska, to understand and diagnose women’s fertility cycles.
Physicians and medical consultants trained in NaPro technology use a variety of tests — such as blood tests, hormone panels and exploratory surgeries — to identify underlying reproductive disorders and hormonal imbalances.
NaPro also offers tracking apps that help estimate a woman’s fertile window. Fertility monitors are another type of device that measures hormones and temperature.
NaPro technology is highly recommended for women who have frequent miscarriages and have been struggling to conceive. Infertility is a real and heartbreaking struggle for many couples.
If you would like to connect with a NaPro doctor, visit MyCatholicDoctor.com or Mystical Rose Obstetrics and Gynecology at www.mysticalroseobgyn.com.
The downsides of IVF
Although NFP has been around for a long time, women nowadays tend to choose in-vitro fertilization, or IVF.
IVF can be effective for men and women who want to have a child, but the high cost and stressful process can lead to anxiety and exhaustion. The financial and emotional demands can also strain marital relationships, with intimacy becoming less enjoyable.
Another aspect to consider with IVF is the possibility of a third-party intervention if the sperm or eggs are not healthy. With NaPro, doctors take a holistic approach if this problem arises by advising the couple to take nutritional supplements and avoid toxic habits like smoking and encourage more exercise.
In the IVF process, a woman’s ovaries are hyper-stimulated through medication to yield multiple eggs, which are then harvested and fertilized with sperm in a laboratory.
According to Dr. Paul Carpentier, a NaPro physician, a woman will usually produce an average of 10 to 12 eggs during the treatment.
Once fertilized, two or three embryos will be implanted in the womb with the hope that one will grow to full term.
The other embryos are then frozen for future use via cryopreservation. Decisions regarding these remaining embryos are made later.
The cost can add up quickly. It includes $200 to $400 for an initial consultation, $2,000 to $10,000 for egg retrieval and $500 to $1,000 per year for the freezing process.
A priest once posed the question, “What if we named each of these embryos?” This powerful statement acknowledges that each embryo is a creation of God and a human deserving of respect and honor.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2377), techniques involving artificial insemination and fertilization are morally unacceptable as they separate the sexual act from the procreative act.
The act which brings the child into existence is no longer an act of mutual self-giving between two people but rather places the identity of the embryo in the hands of doctors and biologists, prioritizing technology over the dignity of the human person.
CCC 2378 emphasizes that a child is not something owed to anyone; rather, a child is a gift.
The greatest gift of marriage is the human person, and a child should not be viewed as a piece of property.
Only the child has genuine rights, including the right to be the result of the loving union between their parents and the right to be respected as a person from the moment of conception.
The Diocese of Honolulu’s Respect Life Ministry is seeking volunteers to form a natural family planning group trained in various methods. We believe there are many individuals in our congregation who are able to support other women in this way.
If you have the time, please consider contacting the Respect Life Office at (808) 673-3074 to become part of this organization. God bless.