Is Breastfeeding the Moral Equivalent of Emergency Contraception in Inducing Early Pregnancy Loss?

This paper provides a counter-argument to the notion that breastfeeding acts as an abortifacient and is thus the moral equivalent of abortion-causing drugs, e.g., Plan B or what is referred to as emergency contraception. Those who make this comparison do so in order to ridicule health professionals who refuse to prescribe or refer abortifacient-type contraceptive drugs and to ridicule laws that protect this right of conscience for healthcare professionals. In this paper I will provide evidence that breastfeeding does not induce early pregnancy loss and that it is not the moral equivalent to the administration of abortifacient-type drugs

The Influence of Religiosity on Contraceptive Use among Roman Catholic Women in the United States

This study uses data from National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to determine the effect of religious belief among Roman Catholics on contraceptive use and to make recommendations for catechesis and education

Executive Summary: Randomized Comparison of Two Internet-Supported Methods of Natural Family Planning

Only 0.2% of US women use modern methods of natural family planning, i.e., the basal body temperature and the cervical mucus methods of natural family planning (NFP). The reason that such few women use NFP methods is because they are often ineffective, they are difficult to use, there is lack of access to properly trained NFP teachers, a lack of motivation to use a behavioral method, and health professionals are reluctant to prescribe NFP methods. One way to potentially increase the use of NFP methods is to provide easy access to an effective but simplified NFP method that uses a hand held electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM), an internet based charting system, and online professional support. Mutual motivation is recognized as essential for effective behavioral methods of family planning. Few studies have studied this factor in family planning efficacy

The Influence of Religiosity on Contraceptive Use among Roman Catholic Women in the United States

This study uses data from National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG) to determine the effect of religious belief among Roman Catholics on contraceptive use and to make recommendations for catechesis and education

Final Report: Randomized Comparison of Two Internet-Supported Methods of Natural Family Planning

Studies consistently show that women want safe, effective, easy to use, and convenient methods of family planning (Arévalo,1997; Severy 2001). Although Natural Family Planning (NFP) methods are free of side effects, they are often ineffective and complex to learn and use (Grimes et al. 2005). Efforts have occurred over the past 10 years to simplify the teaching and use of NFP methods and increase their efficacy. These efforts include the development of low tech calendar-based methods (Arévalo et al. 2004), simplifying instructions (Frank-Herrmann et al. 2005), and developing accurate biological markers of fertility (Guida et al. 1999). A new high-tech electronic method to monitor fertility has recently been developed to help women determine their fertile window with ease, convenience, and accuracy (May 2001). This high-tech electronic hormonal fertility monitor (EHFM), called the ClearBlue Easy Fertility Monitor (Swiss Precision Diagnostics), measures urinary metabolites of estrogen and LH and provides the user with a daily indication of “low,” “high” and “peak” fertility. A recent cohort study demonstrated that EHFM was effective when used as an aid to avoid pregnancy along with cervical mucus monitoring (CMM) as a second marker of fertility (Fehring, et al., 2007) and users reported high satisfaction with the method (Severy et al. 2006).Despite this promising research, there is one task that has not yet been accomplished. There are no randomized comparison studies of EHFM NFP methods with NFP methods that utilize traditional biological markers of fertility (i.e., the Ovulation Method with cervical mucus monitoring and/or the symptom-thermal method with basal body temperature and cervical mucus monitoring combined). Other recent efforts to increase the ease of use and convenience of NFP methods are the use of internet support for NFP instructions and automated online fertility charting (Fehring 2004; Fehring 2005; Weschler 2005). Although there have been studies to determine the knowledge base of an online hormonal contraceptive program, there have been only one pilot study to determine the efficacy of internet-based instructions for NFP methods used to avoid pregnancy (Kaskowitz et al. 2007; Fehring et al., 2011) and to determine the efficacy and satisfaction of using an online fertility charting system for NFP purposes (Fehring, et al., 2011)

Natural Family Planning and Catholic Hospitals: A National Survey

A recent survey conducted by the American Academy of Natural Family Planning (AANFP) found that over 55% of Catholic hospitals surveyed either provide or would like to provide some form of Natural Family Planning (NFP) services. In addition, over 60% of the respondents felt that NFP should be part of the mission of a Catholic hospital. This recent survey was conducted by the AANFP in order to determine the use of NFP in Catholic hospitals, (i.e., whether NFP is provided, types of NFP methods taught, teaching standardization and methodologies used, qualifications of NFP teachers, and the ethics of NFP services). This article is a report on that survey

Spiritual Well-Being, Self-Esteem and Intimacy Among Couples Using Natural Family Planning

Making decisions about achieving and avoiding pregnancy and the methods used to attain those ends are some of the most central decisions during a couple\u27s reproductive life. Health professionals (especially professional nurses) are often consulted to aid couples in their reproductive decisions and provide couples with choices of reproductive control. Information provided on family planning choices, however, is often limited and usually involves issues of effectiveness to avoid pregnancy, convenience, health risks, and life-style preferences.1,2 Little information is provided on how family planning methods compare on psychological, spiritual, and social well-being variables. One method of family planning that needs further study on these variables is Natural Family Planning (NFP). The purpose of this study was to describe how NFP influenced the intimacy, self-esteem, and the spiritual well-being of couples who used NFP to avoid pregnancy for at least a one year period. A secondary purpose was to describe and compare the intimacy, self-esteem and spiritual well-being of couples who stopped using NFP and who have used contraception for at least a year