Analysis of a representative sample of natural family planning users in England and Wales, 1984-1985

In response to the lack of analyses of natural family planning (NFP) users in the UK a questionnaire was randomly distributed to teachers and users of this method in England and Wales in 1984-85. 464 of the 1000 questionnaires distributed were returned; the majority of respondents were married couples in the 25-34-year age group. Data on the demographic characteristics of these respondents countered the widely held belief that NFP users are predominantly Roman Catholics with large families. Only 59% of female respondents and 35% of male respondents were Catholic; moreover 65% had 2 pregnancies or fewer with an average number of 2.1. Specific NFP methods selected by study respondents were: symptothermal (67%) Billings ovulation method (21%) calendar temperature (8%) and rhythm (3%). 52% reported previous oral contraceptive (OC) use. 260 respondents were using NFP only while 204 were combining NFP with the use of another method predominantly condoms. The primary sources of information about NFP were: friends (37%) the church (27%) and magazines/newspapers (17%); 74% were taught NFP by a trained instructor. The mean frequency of sexual intercourse per menstrual period--6.9 among exclusive NFP users and 7.9 among those who combined NFP with artificial methods--did not differ from that in the general population. 31% of female respondents and 20% of male respondents reported no problems with the requirement for abstinence during the fertile period; 78% said they had experienced no psychosexual problems as a result of NFP use. There were 179 unplanned pregnancies reported only 25 of which were method-related. An additional 34 pregnancies were regarded as resulting from inadequate training especially about NFP use post-OC postpartum and premenopausal.