Should I rely on the withdrawal method?

Should I rely on the withdrawal method?

The withdrawal method, also known as pulling out, is the act of taking the penis out of the vagina before ejaculation, and ejaculating away from the woman's genitals. Some studies show that when the withdrawal method is used perfectly, only around 4 out of 100 couples get pregnant a year. However, it is difficult to use perfectly because it relies on the man pulling out before semen starts coming out, which is not always easy to do. Therefore, in reality, couples who rely on the withdrawal method have pregnancy rates of around 22 out of 100 a year. This makes the withdrawal method inferior to conventional methods of contraception. The withdrawal method also does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
 
However, the withdrawal method can complement other contraceptives, particularly condoms. Pulling out before ejaculation reduces the failure rates of condoms, whereas condoms provide protection against STIs.
 
If you are going to rely on just the withdrawal method, consider using a morning after pill whenever you think there is a chance semen could have entered the vagina.

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