WHAT IS WITHDRAWAL?
When the man senses that he is about to come, and he pulls his penis out of the vagina this is called withdrawal. The man ejaculates (comes) outside of the vagina. Sperm is not deposited in the vagina, so pregnancy will not occur. This takes a lot of discipline! If the woman has not had an orgasm, the man can stimulate her in other ways after withdrawal. It works best if the couple has agreed to use this method in advance. Among typical couples who use withdrawal, about 27% will experience an accidental pregnancy in the first year. If withdrawal is used consistently and correctly, only about 4% will become pregnant in an entire year of having intercourse.
WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES?
- Withdrawal is always an option. It is completely private.
- You may be surprised at how effective it is if used correctly every time.
- No fluid, or much less fluid, is deposited into the woman’s vagina (may be less messy).
- Withdrawal causes no medical complications.
- No supplies are required. Withdrawal is free (except for the cost of an unintended pregnancy should a failure occur).
- With practice, withdrawal may increase a man's understanding and awareness of his sexual response cycle.
WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES?
- Couples often want to keep thrusting.They don't want to stop when it is time to pull out.
- The man may worry: “Will I withdraw in time?” And the woman may worry: “Will he withdraw in time?” This concern may decrease their enjoyment of intercourse.
- Withdrawal provides poor or no protection against sexually transmitted infections, including HIV (the AIDS virus).
- Sperm, in small numbers, may be present in the preejaculatory fluid, or precum, that comes out of the penis before ejaculation.
- Males with sexual dysfunction such as premature ejaculation or unpredictable ejaculation may not be able to use withdrawal.
- A man's cooperation and commitment to pulling out at the right time is needed for withdrawal to work.
WHAT IF I HAVE SEX AND DON’T USE BIRTH CONTROL?
Did you know that for 120 hours after sex, you can take emergency contraceptive pills to avoid becoming pregnant? AND for 5 to 7 days after sex, you can have an IUD put in? Emergency postcoital insertion of the Copper T 380 A IUD (ParaGard) is the most effective currently available postcoital contraceptive. If you want more information or would like the phone numbers of clinicians near you that prescribe emergency birth control, call the toll-free hotline (1-888) NOT-2-LATE. PLAN B is the emergency contraceptive pill that causes the least nausea and the least vomiting | |
