Birth control
Withdrawal (pull-out method)

Birth Control

Withdrawal (pull-out method)

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What is withdrawal (the pull-out method)? Withdrawal might be for you if... How do you use withdrawal? How much does withdrawal cost? What are the side effects and benefits of withdrawal? Where can you get it?

What is withdrawal (the pull-out method)?

Withdrawal, also called the “pull-out method,” is one of the oldest forms of birth control on the planet. Withdrawal is when, during penis-in-vagina sex, the person with the penis pulls their penis out of their partner’s vagina before they ejaculate (cum). They can then ejaculate outside of the vagina if they like, but it’s important not to ejaculate on the vulva (the parts on the outside, which include the labia and the clitoris), as that can also lead to pregnancy.

When it’s done correctly, withdrawal works to prevent pregnancy because without ejaculation into the vagina, sperm can’t meet up with an egg. You can also use withdrawal along with any other birth control method to boost effectiveness. The key thing to remember is this: you have to pull out before ejaculation, every single time, for it to be effective.

Quick Facts

Very effective if you do it correctly (but that can be hard to do). Hormone-free, zero cost, zero side effects.

Effectiveness

Pretty effective the way most people use it (but it’s hard to pull out on time every time).

Perfect use: 96% effective

Typical use: 80% effective

What are perfect use and typical use?
Hormones

Withdrawal doesn’t affect your hormones at all.
Side effects

None
Cost

It’s free!
STI protection

Withdrawal doesn’t protect against STIs.
Ongoing effort

You have to make an effort every time you have sex.

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Withdrawal might be for you if...

You’re willing to put in a lot of effort for your birth control method to work.

Withdrawal only works as a birth control method if you do it consistently, so it can take a lot of self-control.

Both of the people having penis-in-vagina sex need to be committed to using withdrawal consistently. But the person with a penis needs to be especially sure that they can and will pull out on time in order for this to be an effective method of birth control.

If the person with a penis is super committed, super aware of their body’s signals that they are going to ejaculate soon, and never allows ejaculation to happen inside the vagina or on the vulva, withdrawal is actually 96% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means that, on average, four out of every 100 people who use withdrawal correctly every time they have sex will get pregnant within a year.

Keep in mind, though, that for most people, never having a mistake happen when trying to use the pull-out method is very difficult. And when the pull-out method is used as people typically use it (which means NOT perfectly every time), it is 80% effective at preventing pregnancy. That means 20 out of every 100 people using withdrawal for a year will get pregnant. So for most people, withdrawal is one of the LEAST effective methods of birth control. Having emergency contraception on hand is a good idea in case things don’t go as planned.

You don’t mind using it with another method to make it as effective as possible.

Withdrawal can make other kinds of birth control even more effective, and you can use it with any other method. Some people pair it with a hormonal method, like the pill, and others use it with a barrier method, like condoms.

You want a method of pregnancy prevention with no hormones.

Withdrawal is a way of preventing pregnancy that is hormone-free.

You still want to get a period.

Withdrawal doesn’t have any impact on your period—it doesn’t affect your menstrual cycle at all.

You aren’t looking for STI protection, or you’re okay with combining the pull-out method with another form of birth control.

Withdrawal doesn’t offer any STI protection. So if STI protection is something you’re looking for, you can use condoms or internal condoms along with withdrawal. Dental dams and/or gloves also offer STI protection, depending on what kind of sex you’re having. You may also want to consider PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), which is a daily pill or an injection you can get every two months to decrease your risk of getting HIV.

You want a method that won’t affect your future fertility.

The only birth control method that permanently affects your fertility is sterilization. The pull-out method only affects your ability to get pregnant at the time you have penis-in-vagina sex. So each time you have sex, you need to use the pull-out method again or you’re not protected from a pregnancy caused by having sex that time.

You want a method that you can start and stop without help from a provider.

You don’t need to see a provider to start or stop using the pull-out method. But if you do stop using it and you don’t want to be pregnant, make sure you have another method of birth control in place.

You feel comfortable talking to your partner(s) about sex.

Choosing to use the pull-out method to prevent pregnancy requires open communication with any partners, both before and during sex. So you’ll need to feel comfortable talking in detail about sex.

You want to keep your birth control private but not from your partner. Withdrawal is a method that only you and your partner will know about, unless you tell someone else. There are no prescriptions, pill packs, used condoms in the trash, or any other signs that you’re using withdrawal that someone you live with could see.

However, if you don’t want your partner to know about your birth control, withdrawal is not a good option. Both partners need to be committed to pulling out.

You’re looking for a super affordable method of pregnancy prevention.

Pulling out is free!

How do you use withdrawal?

The withdrawal method is totally dependent on self-control. You have to make sure the penis is pulled out before ejaculation AND keep the semen away from the vulva. So it’s really important that the partner with a penis is able to tell when they are getting close to ejaculation.

After the person with a penis pulls out, they can still ejaculate, it just needs to be away from their partner’s vagina and vulva.

You may want to use spermicide or another method along with pulling out to make it more effective. You may also want to have some emergency contraception pills on hand in case the pull-out method doesn’t work as planned.

How much does withdrawal cost?

Withdrawal is totally free.

What are the side effects and benefits of withdrawal?

There are positive and negative things to say about each and every method. And everyone’s different—so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.

The Positive

Here are some of the benefits of the pull-out method:

Free
No prescription necessary
No one (other than your partner) has to know you are using withdrawal
Can be used while breastfeeding
Can be used with another method to make it more effective

The Negative

There are no side effects to withdrawal. But there are some disadvantages to think about:

Can be messy
Difficult to do it every single time
May be harder to do if you’ve been drinking or are high
Not the most effective method
Doesn’t protect against STIs

Where can you get it?

You don’t need to go anywhere to get started with withdrawal. But you do need to talk with your partner before sex to make sure they understand what they need to do and are committed to doing it.