What NFP does to intimacy, w/ Mike & Alicia Hernon

Anyone who's practiced natural family planning (NFP) in their marriage for even a few months knows that it comes with its challenges—and that sometimes, the rose-colored lenses many of us start out with can get taken off pretty quickly. In fact, for those in the early years of marriage navigating TTC (that's "trying to conceive," for the uninitiated), TTA (trying to avoid pregnancy), and—everyone's favorite—postpartum NFP, using NFP for years on end (and dealing with the abstinence it periodically demands) can seem like a daunting prospect. And yet... couples who practice NFP statistically enjoy lower rates of divorce than those who use contraception, and we know from our own research at Natural Womanhood that couples who use NFP seem to enjoy a unique level of understanding, trust, empathy, and respect for one another. Why is that? What's the real story behind what NFP does to sex and intimacy? In this episode of The Natural Womanhood Podcast, Grace interviews Mike and Alicia Hernon of The Messy Family Project. Married for over thirty years, still very much in love, and with the practice of NFP now in their rearview mirror, Mike and Alicia share their candid, beautiful, and sometimes hilarious insights on NFP, sex, and true intimacy. For more on NFP and Fertility Awareness Methods (FAMs), and their impact on relationships, sex, and intimacy, click here. Are you interested in Natural Womanhood’s full report on the lived experience of couples who use NFP? Visit this page for more details.  Click here for more information about the Messy Family Project. Support the showIf you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating on Apple podcasts!Find us on the web at naturalwomanhood.org and be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you never miss an article, video interview, or podcast episode.  Follow us on X @naturwomanhoodFollow us on Instagram @naturalwomanhoodWant to support The Natural Womanhood Podcast and the rest of our work? Make your tax-deductible donation, here.