Many think of the Marquette Method of NFP as a new method, but it has actually been around for over 20 years!

The Marquette Model was developed by Dr. Richard Fehring (PhD, RN) and a team of physicians and researchers at Marquette University in 1999.  Dr. Fehring and other Marquette Method innovators continue to study the latest in reproductive technology and frequently publish their findings in well-respected medical journals.  Their research has been instrumental in broadening the knowledge of NFP within the mainstream medical community.  The Marquette Method rules are continually being updated based on the results of ongoing research.

Then & Now: NFP

In general, NFP is a term for methods that use a woman’s natural, biological signs to identify the fertile and infertile times in her monthly cycle.  Traditionally observed signs of fertility include cervical fluids and basal body temperature (BBT).  However, advancements in medical technology have allowed fertility to be more precisely monitored and effectively studied.  Through work pioneered by Dr. Fehring, we are now able to trend objective and unique biomarkers of fertility - urinary fertility hormones!  Urinary metabolites of important fertility hormones are the most accurate self-test of fertility on the market today.  Trending them for the purposes of NFP has both improved the effectiveness of practicing natural family planning and has greatly increased our knowledge of fertility.

Marquette Method of NFP

The Marquette Method modernizes NFP by using an electronic fertility hormone monitor, the Clearblue Fertility Monitor, to perform a simple, daily urine test.  The monitor measures two fertility hormone metabolites.  Each morning a test is performed and the monitor will give a fertility reading for the day – low, high, or peak.  This provides the user with simple, clear, and precise fertility results within minutes!

The Clearblue Fertility Monitor is designed for women who are trying to conceive.  Because of the way it is programmed, it cannot be used alone to avoiding pregnancy.  A  calendar algorithm must be applied to the information gathered from the monitor and other signs of fertility in order to effectively avoid pregnancy if that is the intention.  This algorithm helps to determine the beginning and end of the fertile time each cycle.  Knowing when fertility begins and ends allows couples to apply the Marquette Method rules to either avoid or achieve pregnancy.

With Marquette Method of NFP instruction, we can successfully navigate:

• Regular cycles
• Short, long, or irregular cycles
• Resuming cycles after stopping hormonal birth control
• Breastfeeding/postpartum transition 
• Stress cycles
• PCOS or other hormonal disorders
• Peri-menopause

The Marquette Method truly addresses a woman's fertility throughout all stages of life!

Additional protocols exist for cervical mucus observations, basal body temperature readings, second-check LH test sticks, and additional urinary progesterone tests. 

With formal Marquette Method instruction through FiatNFP, you will learn how to combine and interpret all biological indicators of fertility that best suits your needs for your personal circumstance!

The Marquette Method is different from other NFP methods in that instructors are required to be healthcare professionals.  When learning the method, you can be assured that your instructor has a baseline of medical knowledge to draw from when discussing your cycles.  This can help lend credibility to your instruction and help establish confidence in the method teachings, as well.

There are several ways to learn the Marquette Method of NFP:

• Local, in-person instruction
• Online, self-paced, pre-recorded lectures 
• Online, one-on-one, private lecture by appointment

FiatNFP offers all 3 options in order to provide clients the opportunity to learn in whatever way best suits YOU.  Your budget, your schedule, your choice!

The Marquette Method is accessible to patients around the globe.  At FiatNFP, distance instruction has been provided to clients near and far, including clients in Abu Dhabi, Australia, Germany, and more.  No matter what time zone you reside in, we can find a way to make Marquette Method instruction an option for you though FiatNFP.

Get started with FiatNFP

If you’d prefer in-person instruction but do not reside in Southeast Kansas, visit www.marquettemethod.com to find a Marquette Method instructor near you.  This website is kept current by the Marquette University College of Nursing Institute for NFP.

Courses are also offered directly through Marquette University – including courses in Spanish.  For more information on these offerings, click here!

The Marquette Method can be used to either avoid or achieve pregnancy successfully!

Effectiveness at avoiding pregnancy:

• Regular Cycles 
  • 98% for both perfect and typical use

• Breastfeeding/Postpartum Transition
  • 98% perfect use
  • 92% typical use

 A 2017 Study published in the American Journal of Maternal Child Nursing (Fehring & Schneider, 2017) demonstrated over a 98% efficacy of the Marquette Method of NFP in avoiding pregnancy using the monitor alone.  It has also been shown to be 98% effective at avoiding pregnancy during the difficult breastfeeding and post-partum transition with perfect use (Bouchard, Fehring, & Schneider, 2012).

The Clearblue fertility monitor has been shown to accurately predict ovulation as ovulation occurs 97% of the time within +/- 3 days of the peak  monitor results.  This gives couples an advantage in identifying fertile times when hoping to conceive, as well.

Rates of achieving pregnancy differ between research studies and are commonly affected by variables including age, hormonal disorders, male sperm quality and quantity, etc.  Recent evidence published in Frontiers of Medicine  (Dr. Bouchard, et al, 2018) looked at pregnancy rates in Marquette Method of NFP users utilizing the Clearblue Fertility Monitor (CBFM).  The study participants were charting on the Marquette University Institute for NFP client portal.  These charts from Marquette Method users who were trying to conceive showed that 83% achieved pregnancy in 1 year and 100% achieved pregnancy within 2 years of use of the fertility monitor alone.  Comparatively, women who charted cervical fluid only had a pregnancy rate of 72% in 12 cycles.  The Clearblue Fertility Monitor clearly helps to identify the fertile time accurately and can help couples successfully achieve pregnancy more quickly.

The Marquette Method is highly effective at both avoiding and achieving pregnancy which allows couples to be confident using Marquette Method of NFP protocols for their desired intention.