United States Bishops to Once Again Sponsor National
NFP Awareness Week
Natural Family Planning Awareness Week is a national
educational campaign. The dates of Natural Family
Planning Awareness Week highlight the anniversary of the
papal encyclical Humanae Vitae (July 25) which
articulates Catholic beliefs about human sexuality,
conjugal love and responsible parenthood. The dates also
mark the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne (July 26), the
parents of the Blessed Mother.
Click here or further information or to find materials
for your parish.
Download the
NFP Awareness Week poster
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NFP Classes Offered Online for Clients and Teachers!
The Natural Family Program for the Diocese of La
Crosse is now offering online Natural Family Planning
courses for clients! Click on "NFP
Class Registration" to see more information on all
three modes of instruction that are available in the
diocese. Registration forms for all three methods
are also available from that page.
The office has also developed an on-line
NFP teacher training program. Individuals or couples
interested in becoming NFP instructors for the diocese
can now complete their training through an on-line
course. If you are interested in becoming an instructor,
please contact us. We’d enjoy sharing the requirements
and responsibilities with you! (Instructors are needed
in the La Crosse, Eau Claire and Wausau areas.)
Both online programs are offered through Northwest
Family Services.
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Oral Contraceptive Use Continues to be Linked to Breast
Cancer Critics of the link between oral contraceptive use and breast cancer often point out that all of the studies that show such a link were done before 1990. A recent study shows that the link between oral contraception may still persist after 1990.
The study involved 907 case women (who had taken oral contraception after 1990) and 1711 controls (who had not taken oral contraception). The study found a strong connection between oral contraception use and breast cancer for women who used contraception for one year or more. Further analysis attempting to differentiate among various other factors (including ethnicity and more recent use) showed little differences due to other factors.
"Given the widespread use of oral contraceptives, continued evaluation of their possible health effects may be warranted," Dr. Rosenberg and colleagues conclude.
American Journal of
Epidemiology 2009;169:473-479.
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DMPA Causes Significant Weight Gain, Changes in Body Mass
Many users of the injectable contraceptive hormone DMPA (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate) have complained about weight gain and have subsequently discontinued use of the contraceptive. A study of over 700 women now verifies that these complaints have been valid.
In the course of three years, users of DMPA gained an average of 11.2 pounds, compared to the average weight gain of 3.3 to 4.6 pounds by those using other contraceptive methods. This weight gain reflected gain in fatty tissue, not lean tissue, and increased the risk of obesity.
Furthermore, this study showed that after discontinuing use of DMPA, weight gain continued for women who subsequently used oral contraception while weight went down for women who opted for other methods of contraception or for periodic abstinence.
From Am Journal of
Obstetricians &
Gynecoogists. 2009;200:329.e1-329.e8
Combined Oral Contraceptive Use Linked to Risk for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Hormones produced within a woman's body have long been thought to contribute to the origins of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a disease that causes one's immune system to attack healthy body cells, causing inflammation of the skin or of body organs. Now hormones contained in combined oral contraceptives are being explored as possible causes.
One study found that women who begin taking combined oral contraceptives with ethinyl estradiol are at much higher risk of developing SLE. Higher doses of these hormones increased the risk. Women who have been on this form of oral contraception for extended periods of time had slightly lowered risk factors.
Further studies will be necessary to show a definite connection. This study showed only a small rise in Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, even in the highest risk groups taking oral contraceptives. Further weaknesses of the study also require the results to be verified by future studies.
" Limitations of this study include lack of data on racial and socioeconomic status; incomplete information on gynecologic history, which could be a potential confounding factor; and lack of systematic collection of information concerning smoking or drinking habits."
However, the study did succeed in raising an important question that further research should be able to answer: do contraceptive hormones contribute to Lupus?
From Arthritic Care Resource. 2009;61:476–481.
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