Withdrawal (Coitus Interruptus)
What
is withdrawal?
When the man senses that he is about to ejaculate (come), he pulls
his penis out of the vagina.
He ejaculates outside of the vagina. 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 initiate use of withdrawal, about 27 percent of women
will experience an accidental pregnancy in the first year. If withdrawal is
used consistently and correctly, about 4 percent of women
will become pregnant. Use
in combination with spermicides
(foam or film) for increased
effectiveness.
What are the advantages of withdrawal?
- Withdrawal
is always an option, and is completely private.
- While not the most effective method, it is definitely
better than no method at all.
- No
fluid or much less fluid is deposited in the woman's
vagina. This means that there is somewhat less chance
of infection spreading from a man to a woman.
- It
has no medical complications, no hormones, no supplies,
and is free.
What are the
disadvantages?
- It
provides poor to no protection against STIs, including HIV.
- The
big problem is the desire to keep thrusting when it
is time for a man to pull out.
- This
method gets the man thinking: "Will I withdraw in time?" And
the woman is thinking "Will he withdraw in time?" This
concern may decrease their enjoyment of intercourse.
- Semen
may be present in the fluid that comes out of the penis
before ejaculation.
Where
can I get this method?
All you need to do is
to pull out in time.
Oops!
What
can be done if plans change and the man comes inside
of the woman? Sperm swim very fast. In minutes after
ejaculation into the vagina, sperm are up
through the uterus into the fallopian tubes, where they will meet up with the
egg, if an egg is there. Read about emergency contraception,
a method that can be used after unprotected sex.
Adapted from Hatcher RA et al. Contraceptive Technology. 18th rev. edition. New York, NY: Ardent Media, 2004.
Additional Information >> Contraceptive Choices
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