Options exist for learning Natural Family Planning in the archdiocese
Criterion staff report
Natural Family Planning (NFP) reflects the dignity of the human person within the context of marriage and family life, promotes openness to life and recognizes the value of the child. By respecting the love-giving and life-giving nature of marriage, NFP can enrich the bond between husband and wife.
FertilityCare centers, Catholic physicians, certified instructors and live online instruction are available to make instruction as accessible as possible throughout central and southern Indiana. They can be used for NFP classes required for marriage preparation, for married couples seeking to learn NFP or to address fertility issues, and for any woman struggling with menstrual cycle issues.
The archdiocesan Office of Marriage and Family Life offers NFP information on such resources at marriageandfamily.archindy.org/nfp. Below is a summary of the information and resources found on the page. Click on the link above for more detail and for links to the resources.
—Methods Quiz. There are different forms of NFP. To determine which method is best for your marriage, take the Methods Quiz at the link above.
—FertilityCare Centers. Franciscan FertilityCare Center in Indianapolis and Gianna Women’s FertilityCare Center in Richmond focus on the Creighton Model of Fertility Care for charting a woman’s fertility cycle, and NaPro (Natural Procreative) TECHNOLOGY to diagnose and treat a variety of reproductive and gynecological conditions. These two services combine the power of understanding your menstrual cycle with medical sciences that search for the root cause of common women’s health issues. All services provided are life-giving and respect the dignity of the couple and unborn child. Both sites offer Creighton Model introductory sessions, teach women how to track and chart their menstrual cycle using the Creighton Model, utilize NaProTECHNOLOGY-trained physicians, and more.
—Magnificat Family Medicine. Located on the northwest side of Indianapolis, the office’s Creighton Model practitioners offer individualized NFP instruction billable to insurance and has NaProTECHNOLOGY-trained medical consultants to connect NFP charted information with a woman’s or couple’s reproductive health goals.
—Whole Mission. Whole Mission offers online classes in the Marquette Method of NFP—as well as other classes—with a licensed healthcare professional. Classes are available in English and Spanish.
—Sympto-Thermal Method Course. This three-session, in-person class is taught by certified Couple to Couple League instructors on the campus of St. Michael Parish, 519 Jefferson Blvd., in Greenfield.
—Find a Catholic doctor. Find a list of Catholic doctors in the archdiocese who specialize in NFP. Catholic, pro-life, NFP doctors who practice within the archdiocese and are not on the list may contact Gabriela Ross at gross@archindy.org or 317-592-4007 to complete a vetting process.
—Mother-Daughter resources. Find links to resources on fertility awareness and appreciation in a mother-daughter context.
—Resources for Natural Family Planning in Spanish within the archdiocese can be found at marriageandfamily.archindy.org/nfp-espanol.
For more information on Natural Family Planning in English or Spanish within the archdiocese, contact Gabriela Ross at gross@archindy.org or 317-592-4007, or Claudia Coronoa at ccorona@archindy.org or 317-236-7310. †