| In fact, you already are using a kind of birth control. Withdrawal, when a man pulls out before ejaculating, may be the oldest birth control method in the world. Studies show that withdrawal is 73 to 94 percent effective, and that married couples are more likely than unmarried couples to get better results using it.
However, if you are really worried about getting pregnant, there are many methods of reversible birth control that are much more effective than withdrawal. And they will not affect a woman's ability to become pregnant in the future, no matter how long a woman chooses to rely on them. Hormone methods — the pill, the patch, and the ring — for example, are 92 to 99.7 percent effective. In a very few days after stopping these methods, the ability to become pregnant returns to what it was before using them. Another very effective method, the shot, is 97 to 99.7 percent effective. After stopping it, the ability to become pregnant returns to what it was, but it can take considerably longer — up to 18 months.
Married or not, couples who have great self-control, experience, and trust may be able to use withdrawal successfully. The men who use withdrawal must always be able to know when they are reaching the point in sexual excitement when ejaculation can no longer be stopped or postponed. And they must pull out when they reach this point. If you decide to continue relying upon withdrawal, it's important to know that
- Pre-ejaculatory fluid — the fluid that oozes from the penis before ejaculation — is not semen and does not contain sperm when it's produced in a man's body.
- But if a man has had an ejaculation recently, the pre-ejaculatory fluid may pick up sperm that remain in his urinary and reproductive tract.
- Pre-ejaculate that picks up sperm before oozing out of the penis could potentially cause a pregnancy, even if withdrawal is complete before ejaculation.
Every woman has to decide for herself what method will be
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a good fit with her lifestyle
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most convenient
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as effective as she needs
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as safe as she wants
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as affordable as she needs
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as reversible as she needs to plan her family if she chooses to have one
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as protective against sexually transmitted infection as she needs
To make an appointment for confidential counseling about your options, contact your nearest Planned Parenthood by calling 1-800-230-PLAN.
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