Contraception
Contraceptive Methods
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Withdrawal
In this method, a man withdraws his penis from a woman's vagina before ejaculation.
Benefits
Put simply, withdrawal is better than nothing.
Disadvantages
Withdrawal really isn't that effective because there may be sperm in the pre-ejaculate (pre-cum), the tiny bit of fluid that escapes a man's penis before he reaches an orgasm. Remember, it only takes one sperm to get a girl pregnant. Withdrawal also requires a lot of self-control and practice, and it can be difficult to get the timing right. It has a failure rate of about 19%. This means that if 100 couples were to use withdrawal as their only method of birth control for one year, 19 women would likely get pregnant. Withdrawal also does not protect a person from sexually transmitted infections.
What to know
Talk to your partner about it first. Withdrawal requires practice, so you may want to use a condom and/or spermicide first until you're REALLY sure you have the hang of it.
Troubleshooting
The most common problem with withdrawal is that the guy pulls out too late. If this happens, contact your doctor or head to the nearest family planning clinic within 72 hours to get emergency contraception.
Last Modified: September 5, 2006
