Pulling Out Might Work Better Than You Think (But Keep Using Condoms)

Pull-out or withdrawal (coitus interruptus) is a contraceptive technique in which the male partner pushes his penis out of the vagina and blows it out while having sex. It’s a 1,000-year-old practice, and though not an efficient contraceptive method, recent studies show it might work better than originally thought. But it’s worth remembering that withdrawal isn’t immune to STIs, and it can be incredibly contaminated by human error. So you’re encouraged to use condoms and pull-out as much as possible to help guard against unwanted pregnancies and STIs.

Effectiveness of the Pull-out Method

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the pull-out approach has an average use failure rate of around 22 per cent, meaning that about 22 of 100 women whose partners use the technique become pregnant in a year (CDC, 2020). It is much more prone to failure than other methods of birth control, such as intrauterine devices (IUDs), implants, and hormonal approaches, such as the pill, patch or ring. Furthermore, pull-out requires the male partner to understand the “point of no return” and then retreat before ejaculation, something that even the most experienced performers cannot do.

Yet, as one article published in Social Science & Medicine in 2018 suggests, in practice the pull-out strategy might actually be more successful than it first appears (Trussell & Kohn, 2018). The researchers, who analysed nearly 5,000 couples in 10 low- and middle-income countries, found an average use failure rate for the pull-out technique of 18%. While this is much more successful than more reliable methods, it’s less than the 22% failure rate estimated by the CDC.

Causes of the Pull-out Method’s Mistakes

The pull-out approach is not as safe as other methods of birth control for several reasons:

1. Pre-Ejaculate: The Hidden Threat

Pre-ejaculate fluid (or “pre-cum”) is the big downside to pull-out. This clear, oily fluid drains out of the penis in ejaculation and during sex. Above all, pre-ejaculate is sperm-loaded, which means that if withdrawal occurs before the partner’s ejaculates, sperm may still ooze from the vagina. It can give you a baby without you knowing you have one.

2. Challenges of Timing and Accuracy

The pull-out technique is when the male partner gets the timing right for the next ejaculation and swoops out before it is too late. This seems a bit simple in theory but it’s very conscious planning, repetition and discipline. So often, men overestimate this threshold and will be pulled back or ejaculated too early. Even those who are very certain of the total are dragged ragged out of their skin when something is extremely stressful or emotional. It will never be that there is no pregnancy.

3. The Role of Human Error

The pull-out strategy depends on human behaviour and choice in a way that leaves no room for error. Divorce, behaving ineffectively, state of mind and so forth can all make a difference in how the technique is used. For example, when one partner loses focus during a distraction, withdrawal may not occur in time, or one partner loses interest in the situation. Human missteps add up, and can create more chances of an unintended pregnancy.

Condoms as a Complementary Method

If you don’t want to get pulled out fast, we suggest that you carry condoms around with you. Condoms keep sperm and STIs from entering the vagina, and are therefore lifesaving when it comes to sex safety.

Use condoms Pull-out eliminates a couple of the drawbacks of the second:

1. STI Protection

The down side of the pull-out is a lack of defence against sex-borne pathogens. HIV, gonorrhoea and chlamydia are all sexually transmitted infections, and the pull-out doesn’t stop one partner getting them. Or wear it in conjunction with condoms, which are way more protective and also make it less likely both partners will get STIs. Condoms are a balm that keeps infection at bay and maintains intimacy and fun between couples.

2. Reducing Exposure to Pre-ejaculate Risk.

Pre-ejaculate fluid is another serious problem with the pull-out approach as a monoclonal contraceptive. Pre-cum (or sperm) can also come months before ejaculation. It can enter through the vagina and invade when pregnant after withdrawal has been completed. That’s exposure you could totally block out with a condom. The condom is draped over the penis’s head to capture any pre-ejaculate secretions it might hold there, and therefore reduces the amount of time sperm have to come to the vagina. And this extra hurdle really makes the couples feel good that they can have sex without having their eyes bugged.

3. Extra Protection against Pregnancy

Where the pull-out strategy works well if executed appropriately, it takes great self-discipline, timing and verbal co-ordination between partners. Even the most conscientious priests occasionally have abortion-related accidents. Even the less-than-ideal condoms offer some added protection. When used appropriately and in regular intervals, they can reduce pregnancy rates by a significant margin. They thus represent a double standard of contraception if an unintended pregnancy does come about: on the short- and long-term risks of this method, and on the pull-out method.

Conclusion: You Might Need To Pull Out (Just Stop Using Condoms)

And even if the pull-out strategy works more effectively than we thought, it still doesn’t work nearly as well as other forms of contraception. Since this practice is a multifactorial risk factor (mostly during pregnancy and STIs), you should also wear condoms along with pulling-out to stay as safe as possible. Information, agreement and regular education on sexual health and contraception are what it takes to know how to do it, and keep everybody safe.