For the withdrawal method to work, the male must be aware of when he will ejaculate. Withdrawal requires a high level of awareness and the ability to predict ejaculation and pull out before it happens.
Keep in mind that pre-ejaculatory fluid, also known as pre-cum (the fluid that is released by a penis when it is aroused) can also contain sperm. So even if he pulls out before ejaculation, the woman is still at risk of getting pregnant.
While this method can be used either as a primary or secondary method, to make withdrawal more effective, it is advisable to use a spermicide as well.
How effective is the withdrawal method?
The withdrawal method is one of the least effective methods of contraception.
Its effectiveness largely depends on the man’s ability to remember to pull his penis out of a woman’s vagina before ejaculating, during each event of unprotected sex.
As commonly used, only 80% of users will manage to prevent a pregnancy within the first year. This means that 20 out of 100 women using this method are at risk of getting pregnant.
When used correctly during every sex act, 94% of women will manage to prevent pregnancy over one year of usage. This means that 6 out of 100 women using the method correctly are at risk of getting pregnant (remember that you can still get pregnant from pre-cum) (4).
What are the chances of getting pregnant if he pulls out, then puts it back?
Any amount of sperm that is left after a man has ejaculated can cause a pregnancy. To ensure that the penis is free from any residual sperm, a man is required to urinate and clean the tip of his penis before engaging in penis-to-vagina sex again.
