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Pregnancy outcome associated with natural family planning (NFP): scientific basis and experimental design for an international cohort study

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Advances in Contraception

Abstract

Although natural family planning (NFP) is a form of contraception without ostensible maternal risks (other than pregnancy), potential fetal risks could exist if aging gametes are involved in inadvertent fertilization. In the following report, we first review animal studies firmly establishing that aging sperm and aging oocytes (delayed fertilization) cause chromosomal abnormalities in mammals and other species. We next review human studies associating decreased coital frequency with trisomy and studies of NFP populations that generally show no increased frequency of anomalous offspring or spontaneous abortions. Our rationale for initiating an international cohort study is presented, along with the experimental design selected. Preliminary findings indicate that the experimental design chosen will indeed provide information allowing NFP safety to be assessed definitively.

Resumé

Bien que le planning familial naturel (PFN-NFP) soit une forme de contraception ne présentant pas de risques manifestes pour la mère (autres qu'une grossesse), il pourrait y avoir des risques potentiels pour le foetus si des gamètes âgés sont par inadvertance fécondés. Nous passons en revue tout d'abord des études effectuées sur des animaux, établissant fermement que le sperme veillissant et les oocytes vieillissants (fécondation retardée) provoquent des anomalies chromosomales chez les mammifères et d'autres espèces. Nous examinons ensuite des études sur des humains, qui associent diminution coitale et trisomie, et des études de populations pratiquant le PFN, qui ne révèlent généralement pas de fréquence accrue d'enfants anormaux ou d'avortements spontanés. Cette communication expose la raison pour laquelle nous avons entrepris une étude sur une cohorte internationale, ainsi que le concept d'expérimentation que nous avons choisi. Les constatations préliminaires indiquent que ce concept fournira véritablement des informations qui permettront d'évaluer de façon définitive la sécurité du PFN.

Resumen

Aunque la planificación familiar natural (PFN) es una forma de anticoncepción sin riesgos maternos ostensibles, (fuera del embarzo) podrían existir posibles riesgos fetales di gametos que están envejeciendo son inadvertidamente fertilizados. La primera revisión de estudios en animales establece firmemente que espermatozoides y oocytos en envejecimiento (fertilización tardía), causan anormalidades cromosómicas en mamíferos y otras especies. A continuación revisamos estudios en humanos que asocian la disminución de la frecuencia coital con trisomía, y estudios de poblaciones practicando PFN que generalmente no muestran aumento en la frecuencia de descendientes anormales o de abortos espontáneos. Presentamos nuestras razones para iniciar el estudio de una cohorte internactional ademas del diseño experimental elegido proveerá información alegando que la inocuidad de la PFN sea definitivamente valorada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tennessee, Memphis, TN, USA

    J. L. Simpson

  2. Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    R. H. Gray & R. T. Kambic

  3. Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA

    J. T. Queenan, V. H. Jennings & M. J. Zinaman

  4. the Institute for International Studies in Natural Family Planning, Washington, DC, USA

    J. T. Queenan

  5. Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    P. Mena

  6. Pontifica Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

    A. Perez

  7. Asociacion Trabajo Laico Familiar, Lima, Peru

    G. Tagliabue

  8. Javeriana Universidad, Bogota, Colombia

    F. Pardo

  9. Maryland and District of Columbia NFP Providers Association, Washington, DC, USA

    W. S. Stevenson

  10. Centro Ambrosiano Metodi Naturali, Milan, Italy

    M. Barbato

  11. United States Agency for International Development, Washington, DC, USA

    J. M. Spieler

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  1. J. L. Simpson
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  2. R. H. Gray
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  13. J. M. Spieler
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Simpson, J.L., Gray, R.H., Queenan, J.T. et al. Pregnancy outcome associated with natural family planning (NFP): scientific basis and experimental design for an international cohort study. Adv Contracept 4, 247–264 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01849266

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01849266

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