AIBU to hate the term "withdrawal method"?

[EthelThePiratesDaughter]

It's not a method, it's just having unprotected sex and hoping you don't end up with an unplanned pregnancy or the clap.

@ShirleyPhallus

Versus waddling crosslegged to the bathroom dribbling semen everywhere? I mean, I'm a guy, so I don't have first hand experience, but all of my partners have preferred the method I described to the cum-waddle option. That's hardly a huge sample size though!! Whatever works for you. :)

@OwlinaTree
Yeah, but a hand towel is small enough to be added to the wash I was going to do anyway, so it's not really any extra work or cost.

There are even more ecofriendly options where no mopping of any kind is required, but I'm new to the site and don't want to alienate too many people by putting it forward...

Ah, yes, that must be an unfortunate thing to fall on.

Exactly what Bertie said. It's fine if you're not actively trying to have a baby but wouldn't MIND one. It's not smart if you realllllly don't want one.

Works for me thanks

Yanbu. Judging from those i know who have used it, it should be called ttc as all resulted in BFP . Once two times! You think they would have learned the first time.

Worked for us too. 6 years and only one planned pregnancy. I use an app to track my fertile days. We also have sex most days so it can work.

Well I mean condoms are only 85% effective. Do they not count either? I don't consider either to be a reliable contraceptive method (I would consider something reliable to be at least 95% effective so the pill is ruled out fir me as well). But they are still contraceptive methods just like the diagram and spermicide, natural family planning etc.

I'd never recommend it to my kids, based on its reputation - which everyone does know.

It does seem to work well enough in some cases though. I've used it for about 6 years, with two pregnancies both the first month trying when actively wanting a baby

Getting off at Haymarket

Works for me, like pps have said, in a stable marriage where an unplanned pregnancy wouldn’t be a disaster. Has worked for two planned pregnancies, each pregnant first month of trying so we are defo fertile if accidents were to occur. Wouldn’t have seen it as a method in the context of short term relationships or one night stands of course. I just don’t want chemicals in my body if I can avoid it and hate condoms.

'Getting off at Fratton' is the term here 😹

It's worked for me and my partner for 14 years. Just for the people who think it can't possibly work for anyone. However I understand statistics and my 'luck' doesn't make it a reliable method for other people. So I would agree I'm not sure it's wise to call it a method.

78% effective for typical use

So 22% of people doing it will get pregnant within a year?

Sounds shit to me.

But then everyone thinks that they are closer to "perfect use" than "typical use".

YABU. If done correctly it's not much less effective than condoms (here). We used it for 2 years and conceived first time when we wanted to. It does require a huge amount of self control though so wouldn't be appropriate in most cases.

Condoms have an actual use effective rate of 82% so very similar to pull out method.

The only method of contraception that's 100% effective is abstinence.
All other methods carry at least some risk. You work out what works best for you.

If it's combined with closely tracking your fertile days it's not a totally unreasonable method to use as long as you are fully prepared to deal with consequences of an unplanned pregnancy. It's up to 96% effective depending on how you go about it.

Me and OH have been doing it for 10 years as we eventually want children but I'm unable to take any hormonal contraception at all and I didn't feel the coil was suitable. No unplanned pregnancies so far. (One planned pregnancy a year or so back that ended in miscarriage but OH has been ill lately so we are waiting to try again).

The rhythm method is also much more effective than many people think. I can imagine that the two combined would probably be pretty safe.

DH and I used it for a few years with no pregnancy. I did get pregnant on the pill though (taken exactly as prescribed!)

It's certainly not reliable but when you're in a relationship with a trustworthy man, where having another child at that moment in time wouldn't be a disaster, it's a great alternative.... along with the rhythm method which will also get shot down in flames!

Put it this way, for around 15 years dh and I used a combination of these two methods and had seven pregnancies, all planned ie. we stopped using those methods and I became pregnant within two or three months max. It worked for us.

Although I know we’re not particularly fertile we have had one (very much wanted) pregnancy so I suppose we count in the statistics of couples it works for.

Not all contraception works for everybody and you don’t know till you become pregnant. I know a couple of people who’ve conceived on the pill and one on the coil. At least with withdrawal you seem to be much more aware of the chance of failure.

When I said 'deprived' I meant more that the man would miss out on coming inside you!

The rhythm method must be so difficult for women too, as we are programmed to be at our most 'up for it' during ovulation. It must take a great deal of self control not to act on those urges, no?

Meh, it’s phrasing, not something I have time to get worked up about

We use it and I’m not pregnant. When we wanted to get pregnant it happened the first month each time. We do use condoms sometimes eg if I think it’s ovulation time.

My sister had used it all her life she has 5, (3 were 'planned') kids and also never wears a bra