This natural family planning (NFP) theory and application course is an on-line asynchronous, self-paced immersion program that is made up of three main components: 1) core NFP theoretical knowledge, 2) NFP teacher training and 3) NFP medical applications. After completing the core knowledge of NFP, participants can elect to take the NFP teacher training components, the NFP medical applicaiton components or both. The philosophical underpinnings of the course are based on natural law. Evidence based protocols and standards will assist physicians, professional nurses, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants and medical students to help women and couples to monitor their fertility for the purpose of avoiding or achieving pregnancy and for managing fertility related health problems within their scope of practice. Students will be knowledgable of the: physiological, philosophical, spiritual, psychological and behavioral aspects important to teaching and using NFP and for applications to medical and nursing practice.

The issue we wish to address is the diagnostic assistance and clinical benefits the information from the menstrual cycle and tracking fertility through the use of natural family planning (NFP) can offer to a clinician. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) have recognized the menstrual cycle as a vital sign for women’s health, yet there is little knowledge (among physicians and other health professionals) in how to help women track and understand the diagnostic implications of the parameters of the menstrual cycle, i.e., the estimated day of ovulation, the follicular phase, the fertile phase, the luteal phase, and levels of uterine bleeding.  Furthermore, there is little knowledge by health professionals in how to assess the menstrual cycle and use that information for diagnosing and monitoring treatment outcomes for common health problems in women.

To access this course click on the following link: https://cps.ce.mu.edu