I recently read an article regarding sex researcher Racheal K. Jones and her analysis of the withdrawal method of birth control, and subsequently read her research.
“If the male partner withdraws before ejaculation every time a couple has vaginal intercourse, about 4% of couples will become pregnant over the course of a year. However, more realistic estimates of typical use indicate that about 18% of couples will become pregnant in a year using withdrawal. These rates are only slightly less effective than male condoms, which have perfect- and typical-use failure rates of 2% and 17%, respectively.”
I was quite put off by the above claim at first glance. I’m imagining some idiotic high schooler reading this statistic and thinking he just found the perfect rationale to stop wearing a condom. Worse yet, all the 30 year old assholes who are certain they don’t have an STI despite the fact they’ve never been checked are suddenly without any motive to use protection. Not to pick on men, there are plenty of vacuous women on the verge of unwittingly procreating and spreading STIs too, it’s just that some men tend to think they don’t need a condom in my experience. Women seem to worry a bit more about the whole being pregnant thing.
Despite my initial reaction, I have to agree with the study. Simply put, the withdrawal method is better than nothing and could be considered a reasonable backup method to other forms of contraception. It was deemed a viable practice for couples in a long term relationship who weren’t worried about giving each other STIs.
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