How Effective is the Withdrawal Method?
The withdrawal method, also known as coitus interruptus or onanism, is the oldest method of birth control. It got its name from Onan whose story is told in Genesis 38:8-10. In that story, Judah told Onan to marry his brother’s wife and have sex with her. Knowing that the child would not be his, Onan withdrew his penis just before he ejaculated and spilled his semen on the ground. This displeased the Lord who killed him. This is one of the most widely used family planning methods. The reasons for its popularity are safety and convenience. The withdrawal method requires no preparation and can be used anytime. Aside from this, it has no side effects since there is no need to take any medication or use any device. One study showed that this method is also popular among wives who are forced by drunken husbands to have sex. But don’t pin your hopes too high on this method. As a means of contraception, the withdrawal method is highly unreliable and frustrating to both sexes.
Some studies have shown that the withdrawal method can be effective because the pre-ejaculate fluid may not contain sperm. If you want to be certain it is best not to rely on this method because every body is different under different conditions. It is also possible for sperm to travel from outside the vagina if care is not taken to avoid it.
