What is this?
Coitus interruptus,
also known as withdrawal, is a traditional family planning method where the man
withdraws his penis from the vagina and away from the woman's external
genitalia before ejaculation. This prevents sperm from entering the vagina and
contacting the ovum, thereby avoiding pregnancy.
This method may be suitable for couples who:
●
Are
highly motivated and able to use this method effectively.
●
Have
religious or philosophical reasons for avoiding other contraceptive methods.
●
Need
immediate contraception and have already initiated sexual activity without
other options available.
●
Require
a temporary method while awaiting the start of another contraceptive method.
●
Have
intercourse infrequently.
Some benefits of coitus interruptus include:
●
It
does not affect breastfeeding if used correctly.
●
It
is always available for use as a primary or backup method.
●
It
has no economic cost or use of chemicals.
●
It
poses no direct health risks.
However, coitus
interruptus does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs),
including HIV. Women using this method should be advised that consistent and
correct use of male latex condoms reduces the risk of HIV and other STDs.
Female condoms can also provide STD protection, although data is limited.
This method is highly
dependent on correct use and the couple's willingness and ability to withdraw
during every act of intercourse. Women for whom pregnancy poses a significant
risk should be cautioned that coitus interruptus may not be appropriate due to
its relatively higher typical-use failure rates.
How does this work?
Coitus interruptus,
or the withdrawal method, works by the man withdrawing his penis from the
woman's vagina and moving it away from her external genitalia before
ejaculation occurs. The primary goal is to prevent sperm from entering the
vagina, thereby reducing the chance of fertilizing an egg. Here's a
step-by-step explanation of how it works:
Efficacy:
About 22 out of 100 women using withdrawal as their sole method of contraception will become pregnant within the first year of typical use. This translates to a typical use effectiveness rate of about 78%.
With perfect use, the failure rate drops to around 4 out of 100 women per year, resulting in a perfect use effectiveness rate of about 96%. Perfect use means the man consistently and correctly withdraws before ejaculation every time.
Usage duration recommended:
By understanding the
importance of correct and consistent use, couples can use coitus interruptus as
a contraceptive method every time. However, due to its higher failure rate
compared to other methods, it may be beneficial to use additional protection or
consider alternative contraception options for better efficacy.