The different methods of NFP
Happy NFP Week! In honor of NFP week, I wanted to give information about the different types of NFP methods. While I teach a sympto-thermal method and love using it, other women may find a different method to be a better fit. I am not an expert in the other methods, so I have linked to their websites so you can learn more.
Sympto-Thermal Methods
Sympto-thermal methods use basal body temperature to confirm that ovulation has occurred. They also use cervical mucus symptoms like cervical mucus/tissue test, sensation, and cervix to determine fertile windows.
Instruction programs:
Some differences between the two programs:
Couple-to-Couple League is taught by couples
SymptoPro’s rules do not have the cervix factor into setting peak day (unless peak day cannot be set by tissue or sensation), whereas Couple-to-Couple League’s rules allow peak day to be set by cervix.
Mucus-Only Methods
Mucus-only methods focus on cervical mucus as the fertility biomarker. Personally, I don’t find mucus-only methods a good fit for me because (1.) mucus cannot indicate that ovulation has passed; it can only indicate potentially fertile windows, and (2.) I tend to have scant cervical mucus patterns.
However, Creighton practitioners are healthcare providers. Providers who are NaPro-certified are trained in the Creighton method. NaPro (or Natural Procreative Technology) can truly help women get to the root cause of fertility issues. (See my blogs about my PCOS diagnosis to learn more about my experience with a NaPro provider!)
Sympto-Hormonal Methods
See this article by Pearl and Thistle for an explanation on the differences between Boston Cross Check and Marquette.
Sympto-hormonal methods use cervical mucus biomarkers plus hormone tests to determine fertility. These hormone tests may include LH strips (ovulation predictor kits) or the ClearBlue Fertility Montitor. Since hormones fluctuate in an expected pattern each cycle, women can use this information to help determine fertile and infertile windows. Marquette instructors are typically licensed medical professionals as well.
I personally do not have much knowledge on sympto-hormonal methods. I presume that they may not be a good fit for me since (1.) my LH tends to be elevated due to my PCOS, and (2.) I do have some hormone issues. However, I would expect that these methods have guidelines for situations like mine. Some women like sympto-hormonal methods if they are not confident in their cervical mucus or temperature biomarkers. Some sympto-hormonal methods do allow for cervical mucus and temperature biomarkers within their method’s guidelines.
When considering which NFP method to use, consider what type of biomarkers you want to observe (temperature, mucus, hormones). Other considerations can be cost and class accessibility. All methods mentioned in this article are backed by scientific research. I encourage potential learners to contact teachers for a consultation to help determine if their method is a good fit. It’s always OK to try a different method or a different instructor. What’s most important is to learn from a certified instructor (not a book or someone on TikTok).
Interested in learning more about SymptoPro? Feel free to contact me!
Please note this resource is for informational purposes only. Content is deemed from reliable sources but may be subject to errors and omissions.