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Natural Family Planning (NFP) is a general term for fertility awareness-based methods of family planning that are science-based, accurate, natural, healthy and effective.
The Catholic FertilityCare™ Center of WNY provides instruction in the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System (CrMS) of Natural Family Planning. When using this system, a woman observes changes in her cervical mucus and menstrual patterns to determine when she is fertile and infertile.
To be effective in avoiding pregnancy, couples choose to engage in intercourse during the infertile phases of the woman’s cycle and abstain from intercourse during the fertile time.
Compared to contraceptives, Natural Family Planning is safer, more effective, more affordable and promotes shared responsibility between spouses.
Learning the CrMS™ begins with an introductory session that explains scientific foundations, methodology, applications to various reproductive categories and how to track your cycles.
Introductory classes are offered monthly at Sisters of Charity Hospital and by appointment at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo. Individualized Follow-up sessions are available at both locations.
Please view our introductory sessions or call (716) 862-1944 to register or make an appointment.
Learning continues with a series of individualized follow-up teaching appointments that include professional, personal instruction on use of the system and complete chart review. At each private follow-up, the FertilityCare™ Practitioner tailors the system to your specific needs.
These sessions are recommended five times during the first three months of use and an additional three times over the remainder of a year. Subsequent follow-ups are recommended every six to twelve months as needed.
Individual follow-up sessions are usually an hour or less, although the first session can be up to one and a half hours long.
Your professional FertilityCare™ Practitioner is also available for consultation between sessions should any questions arise.
Preliminary expenses for being educated in CrMS vary from place to place but compare favorably with any form of artificial contraception or artificial reproductive technology. The materials provided for charting and tracking cycle patterns are inexpensive and provide invaluable recorded information throughout a woman’s childbearing and pre-menopausal years.
Cost information may be obtained by calling the nearest Catholic FertilityCare™ location listed above or by emailing us.
More Information
For more information about Catholic Health’s family planning services, click here to email the Catholic FertilityCare Centers of WNY or or call (716) 862-1944.