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 Having done my research it seems like withdrawal can work when done properly - i.e fully withdrawn a decent length of time before ejaculation not left right until the last second.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?

If you’re willing to risk getting pregnant do it. If not make him wear a condom. You’re very fertile after having a baby!

Right…?

And besides, withdrawing (each and every time) sounds like such fun…. 🫤

Is the pull put method not a massive mood killer?

Like, you could be right into it but in the back of your mind you have to be thinking about when the right time to withdraw from proceedings is, and then you have to finish by wanking him off? Every single time?

And people do this every time they have sex, for years?!

If you definitely don't want a baby statistics suggest it isnt reliable

Exactly.

I mean condoms might not be as good as bareback, but how can this sort of sex ^^ every single time be enjoyable, let anyone preferable?

^ Under-appreciated Reply Of The Thread.
😂

No one else actually really like condoms?

"Pump and spray" method is ineffective because my friend has 3 children all conceived by this method.

I'm slightly baffled by the number of anecdotes about people who have multiple children due to withdrawal method failure. Surely after the first one you'd go to plan B. Unless you were just using it for spacing I guess.

I'm not baffled at all. It's a notoriously unreliable method but everyone always thinks they're doing it in a way that means it's not. The accidents were either a fluke, or they've learned now and it won't happen again, or they weren't accidents.

We used this method for about 3 months before I conceived….. so yes it worked for those 3 months.

DP pulled out well in time but there are many pre swimmers!

it is very risky.

on the other times I’ve become intentionally pregnant I got pregnant first or second go so if you’re super fertile it’s a no go.

I guess if it didn't work because he didn't actually pull out in time, or they just thought "what the hell we'll risk it" then you might think "well he knows what not to do now". Knowing your own character is key with withdrawal, and condoms, and NFP, but so many people don't as any gym membership records will tell you.

If you get pregnant then clearly he DIDN'T pull out in time.

I’ve never copped it naturally, my DTs are ivf babies. I’m happy using the withdrawal method because the odds of me falling pregnant by accident are minuscule. If I were fertile and able to conceive naturally, there’s no way I’d use it as a regular form of contraception unless I was planning on more children. I know quite a few women who’ve had babies this way!

By "in time" I mean before the beginning of ejaculation. Withdrawal has a failure rate of a few percent with perfect use, probably because of the notorious minority of men with sperm in their pre-cum. If a couple had conceived once that way then you'd really hope they'd find an alternative in the future.

1. You have to be really careful to avoid getting to the 'point of no return'. Slip ups can happen (IME)
2. It makes sex really crap (also in my experience)

I wouldn't be happy relying on it unless another baby so soon would be okay with you.

Withdrawal may be appropriate for couples for whom another pregnancy wouldn't be a big issue. That isn't consistent with wanting a vasectomy.

If only you'd been around when so much money and scientist's time was being wasted, for years, in search of reliable safe contraception. I wonder why they bothered when it was already so readily available to everyone.

I know what you meant. It's what everyone who uses this method means. My point is that it's a total misnomer, completely misleading, and that's one reason why it's such a bad method.