When we were first a couple we used the pulling out method. Notwithstanding the risk there is also the lack of satisfaction for both partners. There is no way you can experience the final thrust and then there is the cum to deal with.

The pill and/or condoms are a much superior option(s).

I don't follow the quoted failure rate with condoms. We never had a problem and probably used hundreds in our reproductive years and the cum is clearly visible in the teat of the condom afterwards. I have heard of people running the condom under a tap post coital to check for leaks but from my experience this is not necessary.

Enough said. Try spermicide suppositories (like Encare) if you're not worried about STD's and you don't want to use condoms or hormones. The spermicides worked for me; I did not get pregnant for years using those, became pregnant (on purpose) a while after I stopped using them, and am now on my second pregnancy. If I remember correctly, their success rate is 89% with proper use, about the same as condoms. The problems with them are some extra mess, and making oral sex unpleasant because the man (or you, depending on what's going on) will taste the spermicide, and that's no fun.

I think that these new findings will be reassuring for trusting and monogamous couples who want to swap pulling out for condoms, but I worry about the implications for others. As we know, pulling out does nothing to protect against disease and depends on the man to pull out in time. In relationships with unequal power dynamics, this could be a problem. The same is true to some extent with condoms, but pulling out is even more male-controlled than condoms. While an interesting finding, pulling out should not be promoted as a contraceptive technique, especially among teens and young adults. As long as they are similar in effectiveness, we should stick to emphasizing condoms as the best way to prevent both pregnancy and disease at the same time, while encouraging women to use more effective contraceptives.

I don't think that MDs should be talking about withdrawl more. I think we should be talking about better forms of birth control - pills, patch, ring, IUD



So what if withdrawl is as good as condoms? that is still 17 out of 100 people will get pregnant! That's like 1 out of 5 people using this method, which is more abortions or more unwanted pregnancies.



Also, I wonder about the "true condom use." As I tell my patients, if you don't see the condom go in, and you don't see it come out, you don't know if he used one. I have had guys take off the condom before they insert themselves. I have had guys have the condom pop but not tell the woman, b/c they didn't know about emergency contraception.



So, heterosexual ladies, check that condom going in and going out and educate your man about Emergency Contraception and have some around.



Some might say that not everyone can get birth control b/c of cost. Well, it's time that we demand that birth control be free! Why should women pay for birth control? men and women have sex, why should women pay? We have to take the medication, let the men pay.

I agree with Sophia "why use withdrawal" when so many options are available. However I would query Sophia on male condom use. I think my wife would know if the condom was not on and we had a bit of a ritual removing the penis before flaccid, a quick visual of the contents before tying a knot. I looked for many years to find a condom which felt like a cleanskin penis. Some are better like lambskin but there is still a difference.

I tend to agree with these findings. I am very health conscious and am picky about what I put into my body. I just don't like the health risks of hormonal birth control. My husband and I have used withdrawal for years successfully. If done properly, I believe it can be as effective as a condom. It should not, however, be recommended to young or sexually inexperienced people. I do think that the risks have been overstated to scare people from using it, and these findings seem to bear that out.