Couples sometimes find themselves considering permanent sterilization after bringing home a new baby. It's a time of dramatic change, mind-numbing exhaustion and, yes, also joy. The temptation is understandable. Many new parents want to grasp control of a seemingly chaotic situation and say, "Never again, this is simply too much." Sterilization is seen as the safe way out, the proverbial "fix" to the problem of fertility. 

But what if fertility isn't a problem in the first place? What if our capacity to conceive and bring forth new life from our marriages isn't some kind of cosmic liability, but a very real participation in the creative work of God himself? That's how the Catholic Church sees human love. That's her view of marriage: the awe-inspiring, life-altering power to share in God's own creative capacity.

Being open to life doesn't mean we are necessarily trying to conceive a new life, but it does mean we should not interfere with any sexual act's openness to the possibility of new life. 

This is where Natural Family Planning comes into play. It is 100% safe and natural, completely in line with human nature and the teachings of the Church, and recognizes that the normal, healthy way our bodies work is not a problem to be fixed. NFP can be up to 99% effective at postponing or avoiding pregnancy, and there are numerous scientifically-rigorous resources available, even from secular sources, as more women demand safe, authentically humane methods for naturally and healthily spacing their children.