Definition: Withdrawal is the behavioral action where a man pulls his penis out of the vagina before he ejaculates. This form of contraception is classified under natural birth control methods.
Reliability: This is not as reliable a method because a male ejects pre-ejaculate fluid while he is aroused and still inside the vagina – this fluid can contain at least 300,000 sperm (and it only takes 1 to fertilize an egg)! Plus, it relies on complete self-control. Finally, even if the man ejaculates outside of the vagina, sperm can swim, so semen anywhere near the vagina can still lead to pregnancy (this also means that you can still get pregnant even without penile penetration if a male ejaculates on or near the vagina).
Advantages:
- No medical or hormonal side effects
- Does not require a medical prescription
- Can be used to prevent pregnancy when no other method is available
- Allows for sexual spontaneity
Disadvantages:
- Not for men who ejaculate prematurely
- Requires experience, trust, and a high level of self-control
- Not recommended for sexually inexperienced men or for teenagers
- Not a reliable method for men who do not know when its time to pull out
Effectiveness: Of every 100 women whose partners use withdrawal, 27 will become pregnant (with typical use) and 4 will become pregnant with perfect use
STD Protection: Withdrawal offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections.
