The effective use of NFP requires a couple to be in regular communication regarding their shared fertility. Honest and open communication is an essential element to every loving and lasting marriage. NFP also helps couples accept each other for who they are and treat each other with mutual respect. Furthermore, when a couple has discerned a need to avoid conception, the periods of abstinence provide opportunities to grow in other expressions of intimacy (e.g. emotional, intellectual, and spiritual intimacy). These aspects of using NFP help foster a strong couple relationship.