What is the pull-out method?The pull-out method, also known as the withdrawal method, is a way to prevent pregnancy. Although not reliable, it’s a better option than taking no precautions. It’s also an option for couples who are open to the possibility of pregnancy. Show
As the name implies, in pulling out, one partner takes his penis out of the other partner’s vagina before he ejaculates. By doing this, fewer sperm travel through the vagina and cervix. The male partner can then deposit the sperm anywhere else. Although this may sound easy, it does require control and timing. If the male partner can’t feel that he’s about to ejaculate or if he’s too caught up in the moment, he might not pull out in time. Whether pulling out is a legitimate form of birth control is the topic of extensive debate. However, it does lower the likelihood of pregnancy to some extent. If you want to avoid getting pregnant and catching an STI, the safest option would be using a condom and pulling out simultaneously. How to pull out correctlyFor the pull-out method to work correctly, it has to be done right every time you have intercourse. Before the male partner orgasms, he should pull his penis from the female partner’s vagina and ejaculate elsewhere. This is essential, as even a small amount of semen can lead to pregnancy. Here are some tips for how to pull out correctly:
If ejaculation isn't properly timed and you're concerned about pregnancy, consult your health care provider about emergency contraception. Does pulling out work? How effective is the pull-out method when done correctly?For the pull-out method to be effective, both partners should keep sperm away from the vulva and vagina every time they have sex. Pull-out method statistics show that out of 100 women who use the pull-out method perfectly, four will get pregnant. In general, 27 women whose partners pull out get pregnant out of 100. (To compare, roughly 15 out of 100 couples who use condoms get pregnant.) Couples who don’t use any birth control method have an 85-percent chance of pregnancy. In general, the pull-out method is unreliable, and health care providers consider it ineffective compared to other options. If you are on birth control, do you have to pull out?Birth control pills protect against unwanted pregnancy. These pills can be up to 99.9 percent effective when taken correctly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mini pills and combination pills have seven-percent failure rates with typical use. This means that seven out of 100 women will get pregnant while using birth control pills. Although birth control pills are statistically more effective than pulling out, there’s no harm in using both. However, birth control pills and the pull-out method can’t prevent the spread of STIs. Using a condom and pulling outAs we mentioned earlier, neither pulling out nor birth control protects against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The most common types are HIV, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, and gonorrhea. Scientists have documented 357 million new infections each year with one of four STIs — chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis — worldwide. In some cases, STIs can have serious reproductive health consequences beyond the immediate infection (e.g., infertility or mother-to-child transmission). The safest option is using a condom and pulling out to protect against both infections and pregnancy. You can even use condoms to practice pulling out on time. Benefits of the withdrawal methodThere are several benefits of the withdrawal birth control method, which include:
Risks and disadvantages of the pull-out methodOf course, the pull-out method does come with some disadvantages too:
“Table of Contents - 2018 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 July 2019, www.cdc.gov/std/stats18/toc.htm. “Contraception.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13 Aug. 2020, www.cdc.gov/reproductivehealth/contraception/. “Understanding contraceptive failure”, James Trussel What are the odds of getting pregnant on birth control and not pulling out?Birth control pills are considered effective, but not foolproof. They're about 99% effective when you take them correctly. But that's if you take them perfectly, meaning at the same time each and every day. If you don't, your odds of becoming pregnant go up to 9%.
Do you have to pull out with birth control pills?If you're a typical user of birth control pills, pulling out could offer a little more protection. But if you're on a birth control method like an IUD or implant, then it's not necessary. This is because IUDs and implants are more than 99% effective on their own.
How effective is birth control if he doesn't pull out?Taking the pill i far more effective than relying on the pull out method as your form of birth control. Used perfectly, the pill is 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, whereas the pull out method is only 96 percent perfect.
Did not pull out on birth control do I need Plan B?The pill keeps preventing pregnancy during the week you get your period (the “break week” as you called it, also sometimes called the placebo pill week). So if you've been taking your pill correctly, there's no need to use emergency contraception like Plan B.
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