Withdrawal

 

What is withdrawal?

Withdrawal is when the male withdraws his penis completely from the woman's vagina before he ejaculates (releases many sperm all at once).

 

It is not a good method of contraception, since it is very difficult to prevent ejaculation in the vagina effectively. Withdrawal also does not work well because the fluid that escapes from the penis before ejaculation can contain sperm from a previous ejaculation.

Out of 100 women using withdrawal
Typical use: 22 women become pregnant
Perfect use: 4 women become pregnant

 

Does the withdrawal method work?

If women use the withdrawal method every time they have sexual intercourse and do it perfectly every time, it is 96% effective. This means that if 100 women use the withdrawal method all the time and always do it perfectly (which is almost impossible), 4 women will become pregnant in a year.

 

Although it's obvious that the withdrawal method is most effective against pregnancy when it is used all the time and always used perfectly, perfect use hardly ever happens. The typical woman does not use the withdrawal method perfectly. If typical women use the withdrawal method, it is 78% effective. This means that if 100 women use the withdrawal method, but do not use it perfectly, at least 22 women will become pregnant in a year.

 

Withdrawal does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

 

Written by the CYWH Staff at Children's Hospital Boston

 

Updated: 10/16/2009

 

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