Withdrawal method - how reliable?

[GrassW1dow]

Assuming you're in the ovulation stage of your cycle, how reliable, on average, is the withdrawal method?

1% risk of conception?
0.01% or more like?
0.00001%?

[PacificDogwod]

Copper coil is known to sometimes make periods longer and heavier, but usually it's a transient effect and calms down after 6-9 months (which of course is a long time to be dealing with heavy periods… )

I like comparing withdrawal with gambling: it's completely like that. You could win the lottery the very fist time you play it, or never. But it's a game of chance, just depends what chance/risk you're prepared to take…

[Littlefingers08]

Hi Grass, how long did you have the copper coil in for? I had mine in for 6 years and I agree the periods were horrible, more painful & heavy for the first 4/5 months but after that they settled down, best thing ever as I reacted badly to the pill and I love the fact it doesn't have hormones in it.

[Rhubarber]

It's worked for us.
All 3 dc conceived when trying within 1-2months.
I wouldn't advise anyone to rely on it but has worked 100% for us over the course of 20years

[Brenna24]

Mirena is also much lower levels of hormone.

[glorious]

grass check with your dr but I believe mirena is progesterone only I. E. Like the mini pill.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/pages/ius-intrauterine-system.aspx

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I honestly don't know, I'm afraid, GrassW1dow - as far as I am aware, it only comes in one formulation - there aren't different ones with different hormones/hormone levels - but I could be wrong.

I used to be a nurse, though - and there was a technical term, in hospitals, for couples who used the withdrawal method of contraception - parents! I would not rely on it for contraception.

Have you considered a diaphragm? Apologies if you have mentioned it earlier and I have missed it (not enough caffeine in my circulation yet).

[intheBondiBubble]

We used natural family planning basically using an app on your phone to track your cycle which will alert you to your 'fertile' days.
It needs a few months to find your natural cycle and then is pretty accurate but I agree with PP that you have to be prepared that it's by no means as effective as contraception.

[GrassW1dow]

Can you get the Mirena coil for the equivalent of the mini pill hormone though? Was told to avoid combined pill as I get migraines.

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I use the Mirena coil - the hormonal one - and haven't had a period in more than 8 years (I am on my second coil now). My gynaecologist recommended I get one because I had heavy periods.

[GrassW1dow]

Pacific copper coil for some reason made my periods really long and heavy (when they are not like that otherwise).

[ps2304]

We are married and did want children so wouldn't have been the end of the world had it happened by accident. Wouldn't recommend it for anyone not wanting a baby!

[ps2304]

We used this for two years and then got pregnant first month of trying so it worked for us!

[WeAreEternal]

Have you thought about a diaphragm Grass?

They are non hormonal, far easier and more enjoyable than condoms, you can put it in a few hours before DTD and you leave it in for 6+ hours after and they are more reliable than condoms.
I have sworn by them for years and recommend them to anyone, I have no idea why they aren't recommend more by HCP.

[NeedAnotherGlass]

Natural Family Planning can be very effective, but it does take a lot of work.

Withdrawal is not a method of contraception, it's gambling and hoping you stay lucky. And it doesn't just come down to how much control the man has.

[Waitingformiracles]

I will second symptothermal methods. Used it for years with barrier methods/ withdrawal when ovulating with success.

As mentioned above, the book "taking charge of your fertility" is a good place to start. If you do go for it though remember to do 3 cycles with protection while you learn the method before you go unprotected.

[glorious]

FPA on natural family planning (describes sympto-thermal though).
www.fpa.org.uk/contraception-help/natural-family-planning

They say 1% risk of pregnancy if done right. That's quite a big if for NFP as doing it right is harder than, say, the pill.

But I'm a big fan.

Pacific for some reason it's less well known than Billings, I guess because it's newer? Anyway, tcoyf.com is worth a browse if you're curious.

[PacificDogwod]

Ooh, "sympto-thermal' - I've not heard of that, interesting.

I think a teacher is the way to go IME.

[glorious]

NFP can be pretty reliable. I believe sympto-thermal is more reliable than Billings but I can't provide a link for that as it's in a book I have. They are similar but sympto-thermal also involves taking your waking temperature and can also involve changes in your cervix. Simplistically, more signs = less chance of being wrong!

www.nhs.uk/conditions/contraception-guide/pages/natural-family-planning.aspx

Taking charge of your fertility is a great book on sympto-thermal, though it is best to find a teacher.

[burtburt]

We also used it for 7 years, got pregnant the first time we tried. Then another 3 years, and got pregnant with our second the first we tried! Works a treat for us, and we're obv very fertile. But my partner pulls out before he comes and he's very good at doing that! I think some men find that much harder..

[LeonardInTheArgosBag]

We used it for about seven years. The two times I fell pregnant were planned and I was pregnant within two months each time.

[5madthings]

Oh we did it properly but clearly some swimmers still got to where they needed to be!

Tbf we are a very fertile couple the other 5matching all conceived very easily, ds1 was a one off and the others all the first month of trying so really we knew it wasn't the best idea but we weren't too bothered by the idea of another baby. We are totally done now though.

And yes mamoftwo it should be 6madthings now :) and he is super cute, love him to bits he has completed our family but oh my I had forgotten how knackering it is.

Basically only use withdrawal if you don't mind having a baby.

I can't use hormonal contraception, not sure re coil and given the nightmare of madthing6's birth I have decided it's dhs turn so he can have the snip.

[PacificDogwod]

Well, if you don't mind falling pregnant, then keep going, but don't kid yourself that withdrawal has any kind of certainty of avoiding unwanted pregnancy longterm (see the above quoted FDA figures).

Have you heard of the Billing's method?
It is natural family planning with science and evidence to back it up, not woo.
You'd need to find a local trainer, but family planning clinics can usually advise.

Just out of curiosity, what did you not like about the copper coil? I love mind - or rather I don't know it's there and it seems to be doing the trick...

[GrassW1dow]

I don't much like the pill or other hormone based contraceptive methods (but don't rule them out....just if there's an alternative I'd rather go for that).

Tried non-hormonal coil. Hated it.

Don't always have condoms in the house/with us so started to use withdrawal instead

[PacificDogwod]

Sigh.

Whether he withdraws 'in time' i.e. before obvious ejaculation or not is almost irrelevant - ejaculate containing semen cells can escape before orgasm/ejaculation.
'Technique' has very little to do with it.

Is there a particular reason you cannot/don't want to use reliable contraception?

[Lou2711]

40+5 with my withdrawal baby. Me and dp used it for some months without prob but, stupidly we were drunk and he must have not got out in time without us realising. Ah well!!