Natural Family Planning strengthens marriages, deepens faith, and empowers couples to embrace true health and fertility care. For Steve and Deanna, parishioners at All Saints Parish in St. Peters, NFP has been all of that and more. It has not only been instrumental in improving their health but has also been a foundation for their marriage and faith journey together.

Discovering NFP: A Lifesaving Journey

Deanna first learned about NFP in 2013 during a health crisis. After months of unexplained illness and unhelpful doctor appointments, she sought help from a friend who suggested charting her cycles as a way to uncover underlying health issues. While initially skeptical, Deanna quickly realized that NFP was far more than just family planning—it was true women’s healthcare.

Through her NFP instructor, Deanna found a doctor who diagnosed her with dangerously low hormone levels and thyroid issues. With the proper treatment, her health improved dramatically. Years later, another serious health scare led to an appointment with NaPro physician, Dr. Gavin Puthoff. During surgery, he discovered and treated several significant issues including: endometriosis lesions, cysts, and polyps. Surgery was a success, and her health was much improved.

“NFP saved my life—twice,” Deanna shared. It helped her find the right doctors and treatments when nothing else was working.

Building a Marriage Rooted in Faith

On their fourth date, Deanna brought up NFP to Steve, knowing it would continue to be an important part of her health journey. Steve’s willingness to learn and embrace it became a turning point in their relationship.

“Deanna asked me if I’d be willing to use NFP in marriage. I didn’t know much about it at the time, but I wanted to learn,” Steve said.

“That’s when I knew our relationship was something special,” Deanna remarked.

Once engaged, Steve attended all of Deanna’s NFP appointments, diving deep into the method, learning how to read her charts, and understanding their shared fertility. This shared commitment to NFP became a cornerstone of their relationship, fostering communication and trust.

Facing Infertility with Faith

When the couple began to try to get pregnant, they quickly discovered both Deanna and Steve had fertility issues. Deanna learned she didn’t ovulate regularly and required treatments to regulate her ovulation.

Steve learned he had low sperm count and poor motility. When supplements and medication didn’t solve the problem, Steve sought help from urologists who pushed for IVF or IUI as a solution to his infertility, which the couple had no interest in pursuing. They moved forward with treating his varicocele veins.

However, during a follow up ultrasound, it was discovered Steve had testicular cancer. Steve underwent surgery days later to remove the cancerous testicle, and to their surprise, his sperm count significantly improved afterward.

NFP didn’t just help the couple understand their fertility—it led to life-saving interventions. “Even though we may never have biological children,” Steve explained, “we’ve seen God’s hand guiding us to the right doctors and treatments.”

The Impact of NFP on Marriage and Faith

For Steve and Deanna, NFP has been more than a tool for fertility—it has been a source of unity.

“NFP has helped us strengthen our marriage through our communication surrounding our fertility and our struggles,” Steve said. “We have had to rely greatly on each other through the ups and downs of infertility, but especially rely on our faith in God.”

Deanna added, “Being able to talk about the intimacies of NFP has opened up many other lines of communication and even helped us strengthen our prayer life together.”

“NFP has strengthened our communication about fertility and other aspects of our lives,” Steve said. “It’s deepened our prayer life as a couple and taught us to rely on each other and on God, especially during difficult times.”

Deanna added, “NFP fosters a deeper, more mature love in marriage. It’s true healthcare for both women and men, and it brings freedom and understanding into a relationship.”

A Message to Other Couples

To those considering NFP, Steve and Deanna offer this encouragement:

NFP gives couples a deeper understanding of their fertility and how it relates to each other. It’s a healthy, natural, and affordable way to achieve or avoid pregnancy, as well as strengthening communication on building your family as a couple. It fosters a deeper and more mature love in a marriage

Trusting in God’s Plan

While their journey hasn’t been easy, Steve and Deanna have found hope and healing through NFP. Their story is a testament to how NFP can transform lives—not only physically but also spiritually and relationally.

“NFP has been a life-giving blessing in so many ways,” Deanna said. They may not know what the future holds, but are trusting in God’s plan and are grateful for the journey He has given them.

For couples seeking a way to deepen their love, strengthen their faith, and lifegiving healthcare, Steve and Deanna’s story offers a powerful witness to the beauty of natural family planning.

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