Ask the Expert
www.canfp.org
Ask a Question | CANFP Store | Annual Conference | Home 

Ask the Expert 
 
 A Man's Perspective
 
 Achieving Pregnancy
 
 Contraception
 
 Could I Be Pregnant?
 
 Dating Conception
 
 Marital Sexuality
 
 Miscellaneous
 
 Monitors
 
 NFP
 
 PMS
 
 PMS / Mood Swings
 
 Questions About My Cycle
 
 Teens Ask
 
 Women's Health
Search

Miscellaneous Last Updated: Sep 10th, 2007 - 18:59:21


Is Withdrawal Effective Method?
Answered by: Debi Hoppe
Feb 12, 2006, 22:16

Email this article
  Printer friendly page

Question

Hi,

I just need to know that when you sleep with a man and they don't use a condom but withdraw before they reach an orgasm, is it still possible for you to become pregnant?

I would really like to know as I am a bit concerned as this is the way me and my partner are making sure I don't become pregnant.

Thank you,

Joanne

Answer

Re: The Effectiveness of Withdrawal as a means of Contraception

The withdrawal method of birth control, also known as coitus interruptus or “the pull-out method” has an average failure rate of 19% for adults. For teens, the failure rate is even higher (31%). When a man has an erection, pre-ejaculatory fluid seeps out from the penis before he reaches orgasm and it is possible for sperm to be present in this fluid. Additionally, the man may not withdraw in enough time to prevent semen from escaping into the vagina. Even a minute quantity of semen can cause a pregnancy. Statistically, this means that each year about 1 in 4 users of this method will experience an unplanned pregnancy.

Debi Hoppe
Fertility Awareness/NFP Instructor
Sympto-Thermal Method


Debi Hoppe

Debi Hoppe is a Sympto-Thermal NFP instructor who has been teaching for the Diocese of Orange for 14 years. She obtained certification through Northwest Family Services in Portland, Oregon.


© Copyright 2005 by CANFP

The information on this page and web site is for informational purposes only, and is not a substitute for medical diagnosis and treatment by a physician.

Top of Page

Miscellaneous
Latest Headlines
Locating Pro-Life Physicians
Is Withdrawal Effective Method?
Praise for CANFP Ask the Experts
Pinpointing conception
Estrogen For My Baby