This archive report was first published on 12 July 2021.
Published on July 12, 2021, natural family planning (NFP) has become a popular choice for couples seeking to control conception without relying on medication or artificial methods.
NFP involves monitoring and recording various fertility signals during a woman's menstrual cycle to determine when she is likely to conceive. Dr. Thuo notes that this method is inexpensive and acceptable in all religions, with no side effects due to the absence of medication.
However, couples must adhere strictly to infertile days and use barrier methods if they are unable to abstain from sex. Dr. Thuo cautions that NFP offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), emphasizing the importance of partners knowing each other's status before engaging in intimate activities.
One of the challenges of NFP is observing safe days, which can hinder spontaneity on fertile days. Couples require discipline to make this method work effectively.
Dr. Thuo advises that even if a woman is on her safe days, she may not always be ready for sex, and her partner should be considerate. In cases of significant changes, such as stress, drastic weight loss or gain, or irregular menses, a woman should consider using a contraceptive.
Chris and Glory, a couple who adopted NFP, found that a woman is only fertile for three to four days, while the rest of the time she is infertile. They opted to use other love languages to express their affection and intimacy during infertile days, resuming intercourse after the fertility period.
Elizabeth Wanjiku, another couple, turned to natural family planning after the birth of her son in 2017. However, she had to remove the coil after just three months due to heavy bleeding during her periods. She later attended a seminar on natural family planning and gained confidence in understanding the signs and applying the rules effectively.
With NFP, couples like Elizabeth and Chris feel they have some degree of control over conception, allowing them to plan their family accordingly.
