How effective is withdrawal as a birth control method?
According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, withdrawal is not the most effective birth control method. It works much better when a male condom is used. Withdrawal is when a man takes his penis out of a woman’s vagina (or “pulls out”) before he ejaculates, or has an orgasm. This stops the sperm from going to the egg. “Pulling out” can be hard for a man to do and it takes a lot of self-control.
When you use withdrawal, you can also be at risk getting pregnant BEFORE the man pulls out. When a man’s penis first becomes erect, there can be fluid called pre-ejaculate fluid on the tip of the penis that has sperm in it. This sperm can get a woman pregnant. Withdrawal also does not protect you from STDs or HIV.
Also See:
- Birth Control Methods – Will birth control pills protect us from HIV?
- Birth Control Methods – What are dental dams?
- Birth Control Methods – Is the Pill safe?
- Birth Control Methods – Are there any foams or gels?
- Birth Control Methods – What is the best method of birth control (or
contraception)? - Birth Control Methods – What are the different birth control methods that my
spouse can use?