While many have the misconception that natural family planning is only used to space pregnancy, it is in fact an effective method for achieving pregnancy as well. A five-year study by the Ovulation Method Research and Reference Centre of Australia Ltd found that 207 sub-fertile women achieved a known pregnancy rate of 65% using the Billings Ovulation Method . On average, these couples failed to conceive after trying for a period of 15 months before participating in the study. The average period from initial instruction in the Billings Ovulation Method to conception was 4.7 months.NFP will also cultivate intimacy in marriage and enrich it, since the same qualities that will make the marriage itself a success such as respect, patience, fidelity, regard, self-mastery, understanding, consultation, and love, are practiced when using NFP.
Here we highlight two cases where NFP Service in Singapore has helped couples achieve pregnancy.
A CASE OF INFERTILITY
A couple in their mid and late twenties were trying to achieve pregnancy for 2 years without success before they learnt about the Billings Ovulation method from Dr Ian Snodgrass at the Nativity Centre. The wife has menses only 5 times a year while the husband has low sperm count. They finally conceived after being taught how to identify the wife’s fertile signs using the Billings Ovulation method.
Ian, on helping the couple and others like them, “I was privileged to be the one who introduced the Billings Ovulation Method to this couple to help them achieve pregnancy. In their case, it turned out to be a simple matter of teaching them to accurately identify the few fertile days they had by using the Billings method. It took only six weeks for them to conceive their son. Other couples who chart subfertile cycles may need intervention by prolife doctors to restore at least some fertile days before the Billings method can be applied. We have been able to help quite a few such couples in our various NFP centres.”
Cara, a Catholic, and her husband, Kai, a free thinker, both 34 years old, have been married for almost 4 years and have two children – Kayla, 2 years, and Christopher, 8 months. They were introduced to Natural Family Planning through Catholic Engaged Encounter (CEE). Here is Cara’s account of their experience and the benefits they gained with NFP.
“Teresa Chan-Phua of Holy Cross was our NFP instructor and we owe her a lot. She is a great teacher so we decided to give it a shot! We have always wanted to have children as they complete a family. Parenthood is a calling. Initially our friends told us that we would need to set aside at least a year to conceive, and that we should not expect instantaneous results. We did feel that being in our thirties, it might take us longer. To our surprise, we succeeded with our firstborn, Kayla, on the first try soon after our first wedding anniversary! Little did we know that we were so blessed!”
“Our main challenge was keeping the discipline of charting. There were days when we had a backlog of three or four days. We overcame it by putting the charts and coloured pens in a folder in my bedside drawer.”
“NFP really gave us an intimate understanding of my cycle. My husband, Kai, is more in tune with me (and my moods!) as a result. Not needing to use contraception is another benefit of NFP.”
- by Matthew and Bernadette Ang
The NFP Service Singapore teaches the Billings Ovulation Method to engaged and married couples and provides refresher lessons to couples at 15 NFP Centres in our parishes. To learn more about NFP, visit the NFP Service Singapore website at naturalfamilyplanning.sg.
NFP CENTRES:
Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Centre
Blessed Sacrament Church
St Anne’s Church
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
Holy Family Church
Christ the King Church
Holy Spirit Church
St Bernadette’s Church
St Mary of the Angels Church
Church of the Divine Mercy
Risen Christ Church
Holy Cross Church
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church
St Anthony’s Church
Mount Alvernia Hospital
For more information, please call the NFP hotline at 9106 1990 or send an email to enquiry@naturalfamilyplanning.sg.
The Family Lifeline: www.familylife.sg
