A monthly column by the Billings Ovulation Method Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOMA-TT).

Whenever our BOMA-TT teachers discuss Family Planning in marriage preparation courses, we never separate the women from the men. When it comes to Family Planning, the Billings Ovulation Method^® is highly effective but requires a couple’s effort in achieving their desired goal. It is really a couple’s Method. The woman cannot use it on her own (unless she wants to use it for monitoring reproductive health only); she needs her husband’s support and knowledge of the Method for it to work. In this month’s column we focus on why men should be interested in the Billings Ovulation Method^® of Natural Fertility Regulation. The following is an edited version of an article written by Gerard Migeon on the website www.naturalwomanhood.org

A monthly column by the Billings Ovulation Method Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOMA-TT).

At “Is Love Forever?” seminars hosted by BOMA-TT, questions are posed to young people on the differences between “love” and “lust”. Unfortunately, many young people (and some adults) confuse “love” with “lust” (strong sexual desire). A tag line we like to use from Jason Evert is that “Love can wait to give, but Lust can’t wait to get.” This definition can help us to differentiate the two and live out what we were created for…which is LOVE! Pope Benedict XVI said: “Only love makes us happy, because we live to love and to be loved.”

A monthly column by the Billings Ovulation Method Association of Trinidad and Tobago (BOMA-TT).

BOMA-TT has hosted the “Is Love Forever?” seminar in several secondary schools and for youth/young adult groups across Trinidad. This seminar focuses on relationships and includes several aspects of healthy human sexuality that lead to happiness. In this month’s column we answer some of the questions young people have about relationships and human sexuality.

The Billings Ovulation Method assists couples in spacing their pregnancies and is an effective tool for family planning, once used accurately. As shown in several trials, the Method is 99% effective, as effective as hormonal contraception in postponing or avoiding a pregnancy, again, once guidelines are properly followed. Many people, however, do not know that the Method can also be used to achieve pregnancy, even in sub-fertile couples.

There are times when couples may have serious, grave or just reasons for avoiding pregnancy, be it due to serious mental or physical illness or to space pregnancies so that the couple can physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually prepare for another child. Popes Paul VI and John Paul II wrote that married couples are called to responsible parenthood. Couples need to work with God in deciding if they can properly raise a child and be able to teach their children values and virtues needed to build a humane society. The Church thus agreed that Natural Family Planning (NFP) is an acceptable way to regulate fertility.

In the first book of the Bible, we read that we are created in the image and likeness of God. He created us male and female and we are complementary and can come together, in what we call today Marriage, and procreate according to God’s will.