Withdrawal

What is Withdrawal?

Withdrawal is an effective pregnancy prevention method but only when used correctly. When a couple uses withdrawal, the man does not ejaculate ("cum") in or near the woman's vagina. This method is also sometimes referred to as "the pull-out method" or "coitus interruptus."

The couple starts out having vaginal or anal sex as usual. But when a man feels he is close to "cumming," he pulls his penis out of the vagina or anus. He moves his penis away from the woman's vagina, thigh, anus, or belly before he ejaculates so that semen isn’t allowed to be anywhere near the vaginal opening. This is the only way pregnancy can be prevented while using the withdrawal method.

Withdrawal prevents pregnancy, but it does not protect against HIV and other STDs. Use a condom every time you have sex to help prevent these diseases.

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How To Use It

The only way this method can work is if you know your body and can stop having intercourse, remove your penis from your partner’s vagina or anus and ejaculate away from her vaginal opening. If there is any semen even at the outside of your partner’s vaginal opening, it can still cause pregnancy.

Be aware of how you feel as you have sex. When you are aware, you are able to withdraw from the vagina before you start to ejaculate.

  1. Before you have sex, urinate (pee) and wipe off the tip of your penis.
  2. When you feel you are about to ejaculate (“cum”), take your penis out of your partner’s vagina or anus.
  3. Ejaculate away from your partner’s vagina, anus, thigh, or belly. Be careful not to "cum" in a place where sperm could drip onto or near her vagina.
  4. Wipe off the tip of your penis before it comes into contact with your partner’s vaginal area..
  5. Before you have sex again, urinate and wipe off the tip of your penis. This helps wash away any sperm that might still be inside your penis from the last time you had sex.

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Effectiveness

Perfect user: A person who uses their method of pregnancy prevention correctly all of the time.

Typical user: A person who does not use their method of pregnancy prevention correctly.

For withdrawal to work really well, the man must pull out before any sperm leave the penis. He must also be sure that no sperm gets near the vagina or anus. This is called "perfect use."

With perfect use, withdrawal is 96% effective.

This means that if 100 couples use withdrawal perfectly for one year, 96 women will not get pregnant. Four women will probably get pregnant.

But men don't always pull out in time. Or they let sperm get near the woman's vagina or anus, such as on her thigh, belly, or outside of her vagina. This is called "typical use." As you might guess, with typical use, the pregnancy rate is higher.

With typical use, withdrawal is 73% effective.

When men don't use withdrawal the right way every time, many more women become pregnant. 73 women out of 100 will not get pregnant within a year of using the method; however 27 women will probably get pregnant.

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Advantages

  • Withdrawal is free and always available when a couple needs pregnancy prevention.
  • No supplies are needed.
  • Withdrawal works well when used right.
  • Withdrawal causes no health problems.
  • Withdrawal is a good method when no other method is available.
  • Withdrawal does not involve the use of chemicals or other materials.
  • It can be used with other methods such as spermicides, female condoms, diaphragm to make it more effective.

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Possible Side Effects

Withdrawal is safe for anyone. It causes no side effects or health problems.

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