To think withdrawal is quite safe...

[LilyPotter44]

Whenever I see threads on here about natural family planning and the withdrawal method as means of contraception, people always act as if it's stupid and completely unreliable. Now don't get me wrong, it's not fool proof. But is it really as reckless as people make out?

Dh and I have recently had a baby (3 months ago) and are yet to sort contraception. I don't want to go back on the pill and he's thinking of getting a vasectomy but there's a wait. Having done my research it seems like withdrawal can work when done properly - i.e fully withdrawn a decent length of time before ejaculation not left right until the last second. Studies also seem to indicate that 'pre-ejaculate' for the most part doesn't contain sperm. So why are people so against it? Have you had any experience with it and did it work for you?

Oh come on.

I know plenty people that it worked for until it didn't. The time frame of that varies.

Worked for us in between babies

Crack on.

Seriously? You've just had a baby so should know how biology works?

Sort out proper contraception like a grown up. So many unwanted kids born to such silly people. I despair.

I got my daughter by trying that method. You'd have to completely avoid fertile times to use that method and not risk pregnancy and only if you'd be ok with getting pregnant again if it didn't work.

I can understand being reluctant to use hormone contraception at the moment though especially if breast feeding.

Well, it's safe in the sense that it's not going to harm anyone. It might just get you pregnant, though. If that's a chance you both are ok with, crack on, but if it isn't I would suggest you need a more reliable method of contraception.

With perfect use, where the penis is removed and ejaculation happens away from the vagina and vulva completely, around 1 in 25 couples will become pregnant within the course of a year (Hatcher RA, Trussell J, Nelson AL, Cates W, Stewart FH, Lowal D. Contraceptive technology. 19th ed. New York (NY): Ardent Media; 2007).

With typical use, which is more common, around 1 in 5 couples using the withdrawal method will become pregnant (Kost K, Singh S, Vaughan B, Trusell J, Bankole A. Estimates of contraceptive failure from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth. Contraception 2008; 77: 10-21.)

What do you call people who rely on the withdrawal method?

Parents!

I don't think there's a wait list for condoms although in this day and age production of everything seems to be slow or non existent so perhaps I missed the bulletin
Ps currently pregnant with my withdrawal baby....

Worked for me for several years, both me and partner at the time were very fertile too. However although we weren't trying, a pregnancy would have been ok. Would never use it now as I definitely don't want to be pregnant.

I know a few people it’s worked well for.

i just have to look at my oh and I’m pregnant so I will not be opting in.

Worked for me until I fell pregnant.

We did it for ages and was fine. But it wouldn't have mattered if I'd caught. I know people who use it and fine and people who have got pregnant on it. Also it's not as enjoyable.

Typical use is 76% effective. Condoms are only 79% effective typical use so maybe people could stop being so snooty!!!

That being said there are far more reliable contraceptives out there, though they are all hormonal.

DD1 is evidence that it doesn't work, but I think if you're open minded about pregnancy it's an OK way to try and manage your chances of avoiding pregnancy.

If you don't want any more children it's a fucking stupid idea to trust the withdrawal method.

I think it’s prbabky ok if you don’t mind a pregnancy happening.

what isn’t clear in the stats is whether the failure rate is due to not actually withdrawing, or doing it perfectly and it still going wrong.

I suspect done properly it’s fairly safe.

And this is exactly the sort of attitude I'm talking about. You act as if it's idiotic but why? If the penis is removed well in time and the pre ejaculate fluid doesn't contain sperm then why is it so reckless and stupid? Combined with ovulation tracking/natural family planning (particularly after ovulation has occurred) I genuinely don't see why it's viewed as being so high risk. I'm not being goady, I just don't get it.

Why not use condoms?

I don’t see the point in having sex if you’re going to withdraw.

There are recent types of contraceptive cap that will help your odds quite a lot. Some can be purchased and delivered pretty quickly without needing to have medical advice about fitting - size purchased depends on what kind of birth you have had, if that applies.

Withdrawal: you're playing with fire. Works, until it doesn't. Hormones don't comply obligingly with 'exactly' the cycles the textbooks say, and it will be your hormones, not his, that you'll be worried about. Is oddly stressful over time, and a big libido killer when you have had a few instances waiting to find out whether you got away with it or not.

Did you finish sex education classes?

I wouldn't do it without also practicing Fertility Awareness Method.

Instead of the snide comments could you explain why you think it's so reckless and ineffective?

Pre-ejaculate may come into contact with sperm. Quoted on many websites just from a simple Google search.

And I'm the idiot?

If your DH is looking at having the snip, its clear he doesn't want anymore. Crack on though.

We have always used this method. Been together 19 years and only had planned pregnancies .