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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

Pull out method

84 replies

Lizbiz89 · 29/12/2021 18:12

I know this is not a "method" to prevent pregnancy per say but I'm just wondering how many of you fell pregnant this way? My partner and I are currently using the withdrawal method as we're not actively trying but will be in the not too distant future. Just wondering how many of you guys out there fell pregnant this way? Is it a common occurrence or pretty rare still?

OP posts:

PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn · 29/12/2021 20:44

We used it to space pregnancies, and it worked fine. We chose it in a situation where it wouldn't have been a disaster if it had failed (I happen to hate condoms). If pregnancy would be a disaster then it's not appropriate.

And yes course it's a method of contraception - it reduces your chances of pregnancy from about 80% per year to 20% or less depending on how well you're doing in. It's just not nearly as reliable as the gold standard methods like Mirena/implant and vasectomy. If you started a thread titled "is the POP/copper coil/implant/condoms reliable, how many of you got pregnant while using it?" you'd get a whole string of anecdotes about people who had accidental pregnancies while using any of them but that doesn't mean they're not methods of contraception - with varying levels of reliability.

PerseverancePays · 29/12/2021 21:15

@Lizbiz89

It works beautifully; my four grandchildren came about from this method. If you don’t want more children, you should defo explore other forms of contraception.

Bellesjp · 29/12/2021 21:23

I know people say it's unreliable but we used withdrawal method successfully for 4 years before ttc, nothing is fall proof and it worked for us. It does take good self control on your partners front though! We would have been happy if I did fall pregnant though so not sure I'd use it if that was not the case..

miltonj · 29/12/2021 23:07

[quote Lizbiz89]@miltonj did you track ovulation and avoid PO on those days or did you just use it throughout your whole cycle? [/quote]
Nope, just cracked on with it. But it might be best to avoid the middle of the cycle and use a Condom at that time.

Don't know how pp can say pulling out would spoil the mood but wearing a Condom wouldn't. But we're all different and different things work for everybody! And to those who say it's messy.... it's messy wether a man ejaculates inside you on on you... it's all jizzy! It's not meant to be a clean act...

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 30/12/2021 00:17

@PerseverancePays how do you know that?

LoisWilkersonslastnerve · 30/12/2021 00:22

We call it the making dd method.....

Palavah · 30/12/2021 00:32

[quote Lizbiz89]@itsmellslikepopcarn that's so interesting because you hear people say it's like playing roulette and then you hear others like yourself say they've used it for years without any issues. That's why I find it such an interesting topic and wanted to gauge people's experiences who have actually done it. [/quote]
If you're going to try it then track your cycle properly (eg using Natural Cycles and use a barrier method on your more fertile days (do not rely on withdrawal at those times)

Ginger1982 · 30/12/2021 10:04

"And to those who say it's messy.... it's messy wether a man ejaculates inside you on on you... it's all jizzy! It's not meant to be a clean act"

Yeah, but I find when he comes inside, it either all stays there or just a little bit seeps out. Nothing as bad as having him jizz all over your body which to me is just a bit porn-like.

But each to their own!

TheBirdintheCave · 30/12/2021 10:46

My husband and I used this method and it worked fine for us for years. I kept a close eye on my cycle and we always avoided sex when we knew I was near ovulation.

Admittedly we later also found out that my husband has low sperm motility so that could have helped us out.

Its obviously not a recommended method of contraception and definitely not something to be done with someone you’re not comfortable having a baby with.

Gonnagetgoing · 30/12/2021 10:56

I did this for a few years with a couple of boyfriends, no problems.

However also did this with boyfriend in early 20s and fell pregnant (unplanned) so I wouldn’t use this as a method of contraception. For me it’s a bit like something else I tried a bit like rhythm method where you weed or tested to see when you were fertile then avoided sex but knew if you did have sex and got pregnant that was ok.

PerpetualStudent · 30/12/2021 10:58

They don’t have to jizz all over you though - haven’t you seen Bridgerton?

To answer the question - DC1 came into our lives this way

Seriouslymole · 30/12/2021 11:14

You would be much better tracking your cycle properly, with temperature taking etc and using the "rhythm" method than the withdrawal "method" (which is less of a method and more of a risk). Then once you are ready to start TTC, you will be aware of your cycle and your body and be ahead of the game.

We used the rhythm method for three years. The one time we took a risk (as I knew I could potentially get pregnant) I did get pregnant.

girlmom21 · 30/12/2021 14:51

@miltonj a condom is less of a mood killer than checking your app to see whether you can have sex on that day and then, when you're getting into it, stressing out about how and when to pull out...

AlwaysNapTime · 30/12/2021 15:11

Our withdrawal method baby is 6 months old.

LittleWins · 30/12/2021 15:56

[quote girlmom21]@miltonj a condom is less of a mood killer than checking your app to see whether you can have sex on that day and then, when you're getting into it, stressing out about how and when to pull out... [/quote]
For me I found condoms a buzz kill & prefer the feeling without. I also know my cycle and track mood/symptoms daily anyway (bit of a science nerd to find it all fascinating!).

In the 2 years we had no problems and DTD most days. Different strokes for different folks.

That said we knew the risks and if I got pregnant it would have been fine. Just a bit earlier than planned!

WishIwasElsa · 30/12/2021 15:58

I have a friend who uses this method as not able to use hormonal contraception she has 5 dc, so Prob not very effective 😂

miltonj · 30/12/2021 19:20

[quote girlmom21]@miltonj a condom is less of a mood killer than checking your app to see whether you can have sex on that day and then, when you're getting into it, stressing out about how and when to pull out... [/quote]
That's fine but I've never done either! Had plenty of sex snd got pregnant on the 1st, 7th and 1st month of trying for my three pregnancies. Doesn't work for everyone but it's always worked for me.

Original poster

Lizbiz89 · 30/12/2021 19:34

@miltonj exactly! What works for some, might not work for others. Everyone is different and as long as the couple are happy then that's all that matters.

OP posts:

custardbear45 · 30/12/2021 19:42

It's not the most reliable as pp has acknowledged. However it's definitely better than not withdrawing.

I used the method alongside cycle tracking for several years and never fell pregnant. It's not something I'd advise if you absolutely want to avoid pregnancy but if you're thinking about ttc soon and it wouldn't be the end of the world if you did get caught then crack on.

These sort of threads always attract superiority seekers who want to patronise the OP as being silly or naive.

kitty1993 · 30/12/2021 22:40

DP and I used this method for 10 years and never got pregnant. Then got pregnant after 3 cycles actively trying. I do think it works for some couples and I intend on going back to it in the future (currently pregnant).

Original poster

Lizbiz89 · 30/12/2021 22:48

Thanks @custardbear45 Yes we know what we're doing. If we were hell bent on not getting pregnant then we would definitely be using alternative contraception. We've already got 2 children so we know how the birds and bees work 😂.

OP posts:

TopCatsTopHat · 30/12/2021 22:49

I used it for 7 years no issues. Then deliberate ttc was instant pregnancy, then back to withdrawal for year, conceived again deliberately, withdrawal method again for 5 years. So altogether 13 years of 100% efficacy. Then dh had a vasectomy and got what we called his 'you can now jizz in your wife letter'

Maybe some men have more sperm loaded pre-cum than others, maybe some men are more accurate with their timing. Who knows, but it was bliss not being on hormones for years and worked for us.

Rno3gfr · 30/12/2021 22:51

It’s risky but I wouldn’t say it’s trying for a baby! If you’re partner is good at pulling out in advance then I would say it’s a fine contraception for someone who doesn’t mind getting pregnant too much. I’ve used it for years on and off (no fertility issues).

Nannyamc · 30/12/2021 22:59

My mam used it . 17 pregnancys in 30 yrs. I dont think it works!!!!

Houseofvelour · 30/12/2021 23:42

My GP recommended this to me as a form of contraception (yes, seriously) and my ex partner and I used this method for years without a single pregnancy.
However, I do know people who've conceived their children this way.

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