The method
The Marquette Method, explained
A modern, evidence-based approach to Natural Family Planning that pairs your body's natural signs with objective hormone data.
The Marquette Method (MM) was developed at Marquette University's Institute for Natural Family Planning. It uses an at-home monitor or test strips to track two hormones in your morning urine: estrogen, which rises as your fertile window opens, and luteinizing hormone (LH), which surges just before ovulation.
Instead of interpreting signs by feel alone, you get a clear daily reading. You can use it on its own or alongside other signs such as cervical mucus or temperature, and there are dedicated protocols for postpartum and breastfeeding women to help identify ovulation before your period returns.
Couples use the same information either to achieve or to avoid pregnancy, and many women use it simply to understand their reproductive health.
Your daily reading
- Low
Hormone levels are low. Generally not fertile.
- High
Rising estrogen signals the fertile window is opening.
- Peak
The LH surge: ovulation is about to happen. Most fertile.
The evidence
How effective is it?
98%
effective at avoiding pregnancy on its own: out of 100 women, about 2 unintended pregnancies over 12 cycles.
2 per 100
women per year: typical-use pregnancy rates for the Marquette Method in published studies can be this low.
Effectiveness depends on learning the method well and following its guidelines consistently, which is why instruction and chart review with a trained instructor matter.
Getting started
What you'll need
A hormone monitor or test strips
The Clearblue Fertility Monitor, the Mira monitor, or generic LH strips. There are options to fit different budgets.
An app or online chart
Log your daily readings digitally so you and Christy can review them together.
A few minutes each morning
Testing is as simple as a urine test stick. No thermometers at dawn required.
Questions
Common questions
What is Natural Family Planning?
Natural Family Planning (NFP) is exactly that: natural! It is a holistic practice of family planning that teaches women and couples how to observe and interpret natural signs of fertility throughout a woman's reproductive cycle, such as cervical mucus, temperature, and/or urinary hormones.
Using this information, couples can choose to act in ways to either achieve or avoid pregnancy, practicing abstinence during fertile periods when pregnancy is not desired. Women in general can also use it to monitor and understand their reproductive health.
How effective is NFP?
- According to the CDC, NFP methods have a failure rate of 2–23%, making them "at least as effective as the Pill, patch, ring, or injectable birth control methods" (opens in a new tab).
- Studies have shown Marquette Method typical-use pregnancy rates to be as low as 2 per 100 women per year (opens in a new tab).
- NFP methods are "consistently viewed as being beneficial to couples’ self-knowledge, their relationship, and satisfaction with frequency of sexual intercourse" (opens in a new tab).
Why the Marquette Method?
The Marquette Method (MM) is an NFP method that uses technology to track urinary hormone metabolites (estrogen and luteinizing hormone). It gives a daily, objective reading of low (not fertile), high (fertile), or peak (ovulating) to help identify your fertile window.
It can be used alongside other NFP methods, but on its own it is 98% effective at avoiding pregnancy (opens in a new tab): out of 100 women, the unintended pregnancy rate over 12 cycles is 2.
What do I need to use the Marquette Method?
- A hormone monitor or test strips: the Clearblue Fertility Monitor (opens in a new tab), the Mira monitor, or generic LH strips
- An app or online chart (both are available)
- A few minutes each morning: it is as simple as testing a urine stick for your result
There are also special protocols designed for postpartum and breastfeeding women to help identify ovulation before your period returns.
Learn the Marquette Method with a nurse practitioner
Whether you are preparing for marriage, coming off hormonal birth control, or navigating postpartum, there is a course for you.