The "Withdrawal Method"...

[ITHOTM]

...foolish (imho), but there you go.

Situation is that we have a DC and do plan to have a second, just not quite yet! So no long-term contraceptives being used, and no pill (as BFing).

In the heat of the moment last week we neglected the obvious condom route and ended up with this approach instead. We're both old enough to know better(!), but waiting now for next cycle to see if anything has happened.

Reading up on this, it seems that the withdrawal method (aka Coitus Interruptus) is actually reasonably effective. It was during the most fertile phase (again, d'oh) but the technique seemed to have been implemented, er, correctly .

Guess I'm just curious to hear anecdotal evidence of similar 'lapses' (or tbh those who use it intentionally - it seems to have a stigma attached to it that it doesn't really deserve) while we wait a week or two to see what occurs...

workedfor us for years. but i wouldnt advocate it!

Withdrawal method worked fine for us for four years. It didn't work just once. DD is now 4 years old and starting school in 2 weeks.

We've used this sporadically throughout the years as hormonal contraception doesn't agree with me and condoms are a bit of a PITA. We started using this method when dd1 was 3 and I realised I was a psycho bitch from hell because of the pill. The result is 5 next month. Since dd2 (the result) was born I've been on various hormonal contraception but none has agreed with me so we've always ended going back to the withdrawal method. Until recently when we both realised we don't want any more kids. Now condoms are used and some how they don't seem so much of a PITA any more.

If your periods are regular, have all the sex you want but just avoid your fertile days, easy enough to work out from discharge and dates, it worked for us, and I got pg in first month of trying

We have used this method for the past 10 years. DS was planned and so far, we have had no accidents.

Wikipedia has a link to a good study on this - seems each year about 12-18 women out of 100 using 'coitus interuptus' get pregnant. So better than you might think but still a good amount of risk. (mini pill would be less than 1/100 if none missed & implant is 1/1000 over 3 years. Condoms are 2/100 if used properly every time.)

The emergency pill is the same hormone as the minipill & implant & injection & mirena coil so safe while breastfeeding btw.

We tried this method ONCE and I fell pregnant with ds3!
Only worth risking if you don't mind falling pregnant in my opinion.

Do this regularly with DH, but he suffers from retarded ejaculation (he takes ages to ejaculate and often is unsucessful during penetrative sex). I cannot imagine we'll be in the same situation as many on here, tbh. I cannot use hormonal contraception as it doesn't agree with me and condoms are a bit of a hassle.

We used this but only because it wouldn't have been the end of the world if I fell pregnant - which I did, with DS and then several years later with DD

Have used it for the entire time I wasn't ttc. No accidental babies here [hgrin]

Of course now I feckkin want to get pg.....

We used this before starting TTC - and I think the key is down to the man and his ability to 'control'. When we got together I couldn't use a hormonal contraceptive and he had 'problems' with condoms, but it worked for 2 years for us with no 'accidents'.
He was so paranoid about not having a baby straightaway that I felt confident that he wouldn't lose control and forget to pull out or leave it too late, and we never had any situations that seemed risky.
Like DameEnid though - we had a very open talk very early and our get out clause was that it wouldn't be the end of the world if I did get pregnant. I suspect that once we have got to (all being well) 2DC he will offer a vasectomy. I suspect once DC1 is born, we'll use our old method and in the meantime while pg we go with what feels best at the time!

We have used this method on and off throughout our relationship, no unexpected pregnancies here. BUT, I wouldn't recommend it to someone for whom a pregnancy would be unwelcome. We don't actively want another child yet, but if I got pregnant we would be happy about it, iyswim?

DH and I used this for a while and did not conceive. Then used the pill. Then I went off the pill to ttc and got pg immediately.

Used withdrawal for 10 years with ex. We both have gone on to have DCs with other people, very quickly too, so fertility wasn't an issue.

Tried it once, got pregnant. Tried it again 10 years later but he, er, didn't withdraw in time. Pregnant again.

How much you wanna bet I can't get pregnant when I want to...

We tried this as I was sick of the pill. DS1 just turned 2. Planned DS2 is due in two weeks but I thought it would take us a few months to get pregnant as had recently-ish stopped breastfeeding (still had some milk). We conceived the first month.

Also DP told me later that withdrawal had really inhibited his enjoyment of sex. But everyone is different.

We tried this as I had a horrible time with an IUD and hormonal methods don't agree with me - result: pregnant within 2 months each time, perhaps we have 'timing' issues

Tbf, we were only a few months away from actively TTC so were fairly relaxed about the possibility of an accident!

I used it for 3 years and we didn't get pregnant. The first time we tried for a baby I fell pregnant. I think it's partly down to the males control whether it works for you :) but I would be happy if I fell pregnant now, so it's not a problem if it fails for us

Our withdrawal method is currently 9mo and snoring quietly upstairs

However, it did work for us for about 4 years. We were just careful and, to be a bit tmi, it wasn't exactly a last minute thing either. With hindsight, I only fell pregnant because we got laxer and laxer as we were both less concerned about getting pregnant and were starting to think about ttc.

I think it really can work as long as, yes, your DP has good enough control and you are both paying attention to what you are doing!