NFP
I have been using NFP for 15 years and teaching it for 14. I have 5 children, because we planned to have 5 children. Actually we planned for 6 when we 1st got married, but time tempered the number a bit.
Many people confuse the rhythm method, which many of our mothers and grandmothers used, with modern natural family planning methods. That would be like saying that a camp fire with a pot over it is the same as a microwave.
Modern NFP methods, especially the symptothermal method, are extremely effective. Before jumping to conclusions about effectiveness based on stories of friends, sisters, aunts, cousins, etc. it's important to know: 1.) Which method they were using? Several "natural" methods exist. Rhythm IS natural, but hasn't been taught by anyone in the NFP community since the 60s. Also, the most effective natural method is the symptothermal method, which cross-checks all of the signs against each other. 2.) How did they learn the method? I highly recommend that anyone who wants to use this method take a class from certified teachers. There is a lot of information, and most of it is totally new to couples using it. With something this important you don't want even a small misunderstanding. Two of the keys to 99% effectiveness, which the symptothermal method we teach has, are adequate instruction and adequate understanding. 3.) Did they really follow the rules, or was there "cheating" involved? As someone else pointed out, the couple has the responsibility of disciplining themselves. It isn't really surprising if you get pregnant during the fertile time, after all.
The organization my husband and I teach through is called Couple to Couple League. One of our big philosophies is that fertility is mutual, and so decisions about your fertility should be as well. We joke about the poor woman doing this alone installing a traffic light over the bedroom door for hubby's benefit. We teach as a couple TO other couples. How they then choose to practice it is their business, but at least we have modeled for them what we see as the ideal.
If anyone is interested in more info, you can email me or go to
www.ccli.org