To ask you all if the withdrawal method works?

[Tizzylizzy]

My period is a couple a days late...don't think I am pregnant but I was just wondering if anyone else relies solely on this form of contraception, and how effective it's been over the years? It's never failed me yet...

Withdrawal is v v effective when used properly. There are a lot of myths surrounding it. It's 96% effective. But again when used properly. Typical user rates are lower because of a failure to use it properly.

The failure rate with it comes from the inability to pull out in time. It's nothing to do with sperm in pre-ejaculatory fluid for example (unless your dh/p ejaculates twice in a short space of time when there is a theoretical risk of sperm left in the tubes).

I have used it before when not wanting to be pg particularly but not bothered about it happening a bit before time. When we switched to actual ttc it took one night of trying.

So the question is, did he pull out on time every time?

No, just withdrawal. I wouldn't use it if I had huge objections to getting pregnant though, IYSWIM.

Ah, Tizzy

look at this great big table

Failure rate of withdrawal- 27%.

I used to work with a woman who was a staunch believer in the withdrawal method - no other contraceptive methods were considered.

She's got more than one child 6 and none were planned.

showofHands sure, I'm willing to believe it works well if you use it perfectly. The statistics say it does. But perfect-use is quite difficult to achieve with this method.

It is much better than using no contraception but much worse than using any other kind of contraception.

I have used the withdrawal method for the past 10 years with my DH. DS was a planned conception. So far so good.

TheBigJessie with perfect use it's 4%. The problem isn't the method but people using it incorrectly. Condoms have a high failure rate too if you look at the typical user column.

I got pregnant using withdrawal, we found out two days before we got married, she's nearly three now. Not only that but I only used it at a 'safe time of the month' I got pregnant 4 and half weeks after my last period.

Cycles change all the time - it is not reliable.

We used the withdrawal method between children and never got caught using it. Each time we stopped and started trying for a baby I got pg after one month.

I was sterilised once we decided our family was complete. It was useful as a "spacer" but I wouldn't like to use it if we 100% didn't want another baby!

"Cycles change all the time - it is not reliable"

That wouldn't affect the withdrawal method, only the natural family planning method.

I have also used this for years, and my partner never once didn't manage to withdraw. I didn't get pregnant, except when we stopped using the method, both times I was pregnant within the first cycle so no fertility issues or 'luck' in not getting pregnant when using it.

I used it knowing it was not 100% effective, and we were both ok if I did get pregnant, but it actually was very effective and we had to make more of an effort to really get pregnant by not using any method at all.

No, this is not the same as a natural family planning method, we used it all the time.

I would not recommend it though, to anyone not happy to have children, because of the STD risk and the lower risk than, say, the Pill. If you are in a long-term relationship, both happy to risk getting pregnant, but don't have a set timescale or want to right now, then it's fine as a method of managing fertility.

BlImey, had no idea people seriously used this as a method. Interesting.

Can I ask those of you using this method...is it not a tad unsatisfying for one/both parties? I think my OH and I would feel a bit unfulfilled if he was never able to finish the job while still...er... indoors. It sort of finishes things off rather nicely.

The only method of contraception that "works" i.e. 100% effective against pregnancy is abstinence. Anything else has a failure rate, so no, it doesn't "work".

Yes- but to achieve perfect use, you have to be precise at a crucial moment. It's very easy to mess up. That's a crucial flaw to me.
Obviously, lots of people on this thread have managed it though!

head sorry, yes you are right. I am thinking of the rhythm method

Not saying it isn't difficult to achieve. I am just pointing out the actual facts about it. Comments about crossing fingers being as effective are inaccurate and there are people who are able to use it properly without incident. I expect, however, that any woman who is responsible for her own contraception to know all this for herself by researching it before taking the decision. It is a valid choice for some women.

A recent study has shown that the withdrawal method is almost as effective as condoms!

Withdrawal is sometimes referred to as the contraceptive method that is ?better than nothing? [1]. But, based on the evidence, it might more aptly be referred to as a method that is almost as effective as the male condom?at least when it comes to pregnancy prevention. If the male partner withdraws before ejaculation every time a couple has vaginal intercourse, about 4% of couples will become pregnant over the course of a year [2]. However, more realistic estimates of typical use indicate that about 18% of couples will become pregnant in a year using withdrawal [3]. These rates are only slightly less effective than male condoms, which have perfect- and typical-use failure rates of 2% and 17%, respectively [3].

www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/reprints/Contraception79-407-410.pdf

For those who rely on withdrawal, isn't it stressful?
I can't imagine it's much fun worrying about whether he'll pull out in time, and what if you are just 'on the edge' when he does?

Just to add my experience for balance, DH and I used it for years - just withdrawal, not checking dates or temperatures, and had no accidents. We only very very rarely took a risk and didn't withdraw. So I think if you really do it, it works, but so many people claim to be using the withdrawal method and they're actually just risking it.

Got pg easily twice when I wanted to.

Now, however, we use condoms religiously, because now I have 2 dcs and really really really don't want to get pg again. It's one thing taking the risk (and we were lucky for ages) if it wouldn't be a disaster to get pg, but I'm not prepared to risk it any more.

Waterlego better for him, maybe perhaps nicer for you not to have stuff dribbling down your leg for hours afterwards

The key is: are you in a long-term relationship where you don't need to protect yourself against STD's, can your partner reliably withdraw and do you mind a slightly higher chance of getting pregnant? I would never use this with a new casual partner, no way.

I think people make the mistake of thinking that other people practising withdrawal are getting close to climax every time through penetrative sex and then pulling out at the end. Sound a bit crap yes, I agree. What happens in reality is that most people using withdrawal are aware that pulling out that near the end is often a bit risky and/or unfulfilling so climax in other ways/pull out well before conclusion/experiment more. It's actually quite useful for pulling focus away from a 'foreplay -> penetration -> climax' model.