how reliable is my contraception?

Question

i have done my breeding, i have regular periods and iam old enough to know when iam ovulating. i have been using the withdrawal method. just how reliable is this (i trust him more than i trust myself) knowledgable persons only plz.

Answer 1

This is NOT reliable....all men secrete a small amount of semen BEFORE they ejaculate, which ususally has sperm in it!! The only reliable method is to not have sex. You are going to get pregnant that way!

Answer 2

Unfortunately not very. (see other posts for details). I cant give you a percentage, as people do it various ways, but it is one of the least reliable methods used, and NEVER recommended by family planning nurses/doctors. Im getting the impression you dont want to use other contraception like pills/condoms/etc. but its worth having a chat with your GP or practice nurse as there are less known options available like injections and implants. If you are sure you have finished having children then you could consider having a sterilization. Its permanent, and very reliable, and you only have to have it once. If you are determined not to use anything like that, then have a look into temperature monitoring to find out when you are ovulating, you take your temperature and it will tell you whether or not you are ovulating. Its not 100% reliable but its better than guessing.

Whichever way, if you are sure you dont want any more children, then dont rely on the withdrawal method as you will end up with another child. There are so many other ways of preventing this out there, its got to be worth a chat, surely?

Answer 3

Is this a serious question?

Withdrawal, or coitus interuptus, is by far the least effective form of birth control known to humankind. Even if he "pulls out in time," pre-ejaculate fluid can contain sperm cells. It's like playing Russian Roulette every day. Eventually, the shell will be in the chamber.

Every other form of birth control that I can think of is more effective. Even spermicide, which I don't recommend because it's less effective than condoms or "the pill."

PLEASE talk to your doctor or phone your local health department. And, do it now! Tomorrow you could be pregnant.


This is not a joke. I am a knowledgeable person in this area, having taught "Human Sexuality" at the college level for many years.

If your husband thinks that you're going for outside help because you "don't trust him," tell him that it's not about "trust," it's about biology.

Answer 4

This is not a very reliable method at all as it only takes one sperm to enter the vagina at the wrong time and you could find yourself pregnant again. If you do not want to use the pill etc., you can always use the temperature method or speak to someone like a family planning clininc as these are specialist nurses and doctors and have more time that GPs to discuss natural family planning methods with you

Answer 5

I think I will join with the comment of - is this a serious question?

If you are old enough to know when you are ovulating, old enough to be having sex, then you are old enough to know about contraception and know how to have safe sex.

The reliability breakdown;

27 out of 100 women using withdrawal with typical use will become pregnant during the first year. 4 out of 100 women using withdrawal will become pregnant in the first year with perfect use.
You can work this out as percentage if you would like, but is better to think of it as is.

Ovulation is one thing, but you also have to take into account fertile days, even if your menstrual cycle is regular there is no way of knowing if you are fertile or not for sure unless you use birth control methods such as natural family planning or fertility awareness method (highly effective as contraception, as well as very beneficial for learning and caring for your body and reproductive health) where you chart your temperature, cervical mucus and cervical position to determine fertility.

I find it highly unlikely that someone who knows when they are ovulating is using withdrawal, knowing when you are ovulating takes a lot of knowledge on sexual reproduction as well as charting with the above mentioned methods – someone who knows how to use FAM or NFP would not use withdrawal.

Granted you will only be fertile for 30% of your cycle, you have no way of knowing when this time is if you are using withdrawal as contraception, there is also then of course the issue of pre-ejaculate containing sperm or ejaculate getting into the vagina from the outside – e.g. spilled on the vulva.

Withdrawal requires a great deal of trust and self-control between partners, most men cannot show such self-control, I have known men with a great deal of experience, even men who have studied tantric sex to some degree, who have not been able to show the sorts of control needed for perfect use withdrawal.

Withdrawal then also provides no protection what-so-ever against STD's, so another example of why withdrawal is not something responsible educated people use as contraception.

I would highly recommend using 'real' contraception and educating yourself - do not rely on doctors to inform you of your choices or inform you on how your body and conception occurs, doctors don't have time to take you thought everything, they do not know what is best for you, and in our culture it is common for doctors to put every woman they come across on hormonal contraception to save them time.

It is your responsibility to educate yourself and be responsible, remember it is not just you who is involved when it comes to sex.
Sorry to be blunt, but it's an honest answer.

Answer 6

Your contraception method is not reliable AT ALL!! I don't think I wouldn't trust either one of you if thats the form you choose to use! How about if neither one of you have sex! Heaven forbid you do any more breeding!

Answer 7

you may want to be on the dep. even as breastfeeding. i changed into on the dep. for 6months after havnig my daughter and breastfed the total time. it truly is between the most secure techniques of contraceptive as your classes end all jointly (it truly is also a touch bonus) the purely down part is in case you ever replace your options about yet another toddler then it may take years to get your time-honored cycle decrease back. I honestly were TTC for 11months and purely the finest 2 months have I were given my classes decrease back xx

Answer 8

The method you are using will make you a mother again "guaranteed". The only safe method is to take a pill and hold it tightly between your knees.

Answer 9

it is not at all reliable, all men excrete some semen before they actually ejaculate, so you are VERY lucky that using this method has worked for you so far but it is NOT reliable and you could very easily end up pregnant. if you are old enough to have sex you should be sensible enough to realise that what your doing is, to put it bluntly, STUPID!!! Use a condom!!!!

Answer 10

the pull out method does not work as 1000s of sperms come out
a man can release sperm without knowing and that's what gets you preg the pill isn't 100% safe wear a condom too