QuestionIn your opinion what is the best method (or combined methods) of natural family planning for a young female with no prior pregnancies in long-term committed relationship?
Due to the recent article, "The rhythm method and embryonic death" I had a few concerns. Although I know the rhythm method is outdated and not part of modern natural family planning and also had a few quips with the author (Bovens is from a school of economics, not medical health), I still had one concern. Is it true that an egg is less viable at certain times (like toward the end of fertility) and more likely to (in the event of conception) cause spontaneous abortion?
AnswerThe article appears to have been written in June 2006, so there are many comments about it on the internet. You might want to Google the title and see what you find.
I would say it is not something that you can change by worrying about it. Just like old men and women are not as viable toward the end of their lives, eggs and sperm also have a life cycle which may be young and vital at the beginning and less so at the end.
Since there is no delibrate killing of a fertilized embryo in the scenario you and the author have written about, there is no fault, no blame and no reason to avoid using NFP.
I think all of the chemical, barrier and other artificial methods of birth control have risks and reasons for avoiding them. The younger you are when you start using them, the more damage you can do to your health and your relationships. NFP teaches you how to understand your fertility, to work with it and to be healthy and safe. I would never recommend anything else.
By a long-term committed relationship, I hope you mean marriage because no matter what method of child spacing you use, there is none of them that is 100%, so the rule is that sex makes babies. If your partner is your husband and will be there for you and the babies, then NFP will be the best thing for all of you.
