Those of us who have attended any small portion of sex ed class know that coitus interruptus, aka pulling out or withdrawal, just isn't a good method of birth control. I mean, come on, pre-ejaculate contains tons of sperm. And what if you don't pull out in time? We've been brought up to think that pulling out is only barely better than just ejaculating inside the girl.
But is it really?
A
new report by Dr. Rachel Jones claims that, as a method of birth control, pulling out is only slightly less effective than the male condom. Based on data gathered by the Guttmacher Institute, only 4% of couples would become pregnant using the withdrawal method if used perfectly; they estimate that 18% would get pregnant if they take human error into account. The failure rate for condoms are about 2% if used perfectly, and more like 17% when used typically. That's not a whole lot of difference!
I'm not sure whether to believe this or not --after all, it does fly in the face of everything I've learned thus far. However, I'll admit that I'll be happy if it is true. It won't make me stop using my current method of condoms + withdrawal, but I think I'll rest easier knowing that the two combined reduce the risk of pregnancy even more than I originally thought.
Of course, I must point out that pulling out does NOT protect against STDs. This new finding, if it is true, is more relevant to couples in monogamous, long-term relationships. Condoms are still the best thing for casual sex!
Read the
ABC news story here, or
Dr. Jones's report here.
What is your method of birth control? Since condoms and "pulling out" have almost the same percentage of failure, would you still prefer pulling out over condoms?
just_the_average_jane@xanga
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Comments (146)
Right now I'm knowingly being stupid. I'm using the pull out method when I KNOW I should be using condoms. I really am retarded sometimes.
The statistics surprise me though! Wow thats crazy :(
Interesting stats ... but part of me simply says: Are you Kidding?! Pulling out ... is asking for ... unexpected children.
pulling out seems really stupid to me =/
uh idont trust pulling out...condoms ftw
Hm, I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Honestly - pulling out has always worked for me... yes I have 5 kids.. but those were the times we didn't pull out. But yeah, pulling out has always worked, as long as it's done correctly... the problem is the human error.. the NOT pulling out... so yeah, everyone should use a more reliable birth control method, obviously lol.
we go with birth control pills and pulling out. that way its "natural" but have the better feeling of knowing pills are 99% effective if taken correctly, which i only falter maybe 4%...so yeah maybe ill get pregnant. it happens. people have babies. people have abortions too ;)
BUT, one of my IDIOT friends already has two kids by different mothers using the "dont be a dummy, cum on the tummy" method. what a retard. hes only 20
the pill is ovbs the best.
i only dont use a condom when there isn't one and we're in dire need. ;)
my husband and I use natural fertility awareness, Based on my "signs" we abstain from sex three days before my fertile date and three days after. however since i really don;t want kids right now even on the non-fertile days we do the "pull and pray" (pull out and pray you don;t get prego)
I was on birth control... so condoms + birth control. lol Now it's just condoms.
It depends on the man and your level of trust in his ability to pull out or if he will actually do it. I was in a 3 year relationship and we used that method and when I found out I was pregnant prior to this pregnancy he confessed he got me pregnant on purpose :(
thats what foreplay is for. pre-cum down the throat, bone, then cum down the throat. always works for me.
Pulling out doesn't address precum (which can make you pregnant).
"if used perfectly." we're talking about real people, here. as if.
Lol, this is actually dumb.
Some of the secretions from the penis before ejaculation have sperm in it, so pulling out doesn't really work that way.
pulling out is how my son get here.
so no, it doesn't work.
I am on the pill, and my boyfriend uses condoms. He even pulls out. We are determined to not get pregnant.
Death From Above 1979 anyone?
I am on the pill
@C_UNIT42@xanga - best answer here! hahah
pfft. it's because "typical" condom usage takes into account all the people who "forget" to put it on, put it on really stupidly, or used expired ones. the 2% already considers breakage. i mean, if you're going to forget or be stupid about it, it's just as bad as pulling out and not doing it in time. eye roll.
you should aim for perfect usage of either method. and in that case, condoms are twice as effective. crap, i hope this article doesn't convince a bunch of horny kids to pull out instead.
statistic interpretation fail. -__-\
It's a terrible idea, especially if you have shitty control.
Umm, people actually still think works?