Using withdrawal method during fertile period? - Page 2

[Sk8ermaiden]

Originally Posted by jennifer0246

There's alot of information available now that says withdrawal is a reasonably effective contraceptive method, and that failures are due to error in use.

This can be failure to completely withdraw prior to ejaculation, or failure to urinate between episodes of sexual contact (semen, and thus sperm, can live in the urethra if not flushed out). Barring those failures, there isn't thought to be sperm in pre-ejaculate.

Yup! We've been doing this for 4 years and haven't even come close to having an Oops. DH has great self control (and really does not want a baby at this time!). And 96% of the time it is about self control (and flushing out the urethra), but of course, there is that other 4% that is just the BC method failure rate - which every method has to some % or another.

[muttmom92]

We've been using this method for over 10 years and it has worked for us. Both kids were planned. While we both don't want anymore kids (at least not for a while), it wouldn't be the end of the world if it did happen. That's why we continue to use it.

[Bloomingstar]

just chiming in! My Dh and I have used withdrawal for the past year--I was one the pill before that, condoms before that--and I haven't gotten pregnant yet. Well now we are TTC so we'll see how it turns out...

[springmama]

This is all we haved used since our 1st was born 3 years ago. Now that we have 2 we are seriously considering dh getting a V. But for now we are using withdrawl and if we get pg it will be ok. I think that as long as you are ok with having a baby then it is not irresponsible. All b/c methods have a failure rate, I was conceived while my parents were using spermicide.

[inurl]

One word... well ok a composite word - "pre-cum".

All you should know is that you're increasing your chance to get pregnant by several hundred times using withdrawal instead of a condom. It's your call though.

[Arwyn]

Originally Posted by inurl

One word... well ok a composite word - "pre-cum".

All you should know is that you're increasing your chance to get pregnant by several hundred times using withdrawal instead of a condom. It's your call though.

That's simply not true. Done correctly, withdrawal method is approximately as effective as condom use. "Precum" does not contain any sperm, unless it washes out sperm still residing in the tubes from a previous ejaculation.

The difference is not in the ideal use conception rates (both are about 95% effective), it's in the rate that they get used ideally (that is, many men do not withdraw at an appropriate time, or ejaculate too close to the vagina).

Look up the book Contraceptive Technologies, or investigate at Planned Parenhood online.

[Sk8ermaiden]

Just wanted to add a :. Studies have shown no viable sperm in precum. That precum normally contains sperm is a myth.

And condoms are 2% effective with normal use. Withdrawl is 4% effective with normal use. So while condoms are obviously more effective, they are hardly hundreds of times more effective. We will take the 2% greater chance to not have to mess with condoms.

[beansricerevolt]

DH and I have a withdrawal baby too.
I also suggest the cycle beads. I love mine.
FWIW, we still use the withdrawal method

[cicada]

this is definitely how i got pregnant with my second pregnancy.

i won't mess with it again. as much as i hate condoms, they're better than an unwanted pregnancy.

[momofmine]

results?

I just saw the OP's sig line says she is due Nov 08! Congratulations!! Just curious if this was because the withdrawal method didn't work for you??

We use withdrawal only, but I am starting to also track my cycles, so that we can be more liberal during the infertile times. It has worked so far for almost four years (though the first 18 months I was not ovulating yet).

[turtlewomyn]

As long as you are ok with a "surprise" pregnancy, then it isn't necessarily irresponsible.

We have been using FAM for about 20 months now, no pregnancies. We avoid or use condoms during my fertile time. I think once when I was getting a baby bug we used withdrawl during the fertile time and nothing happened. I wouldn't risk it though if I was dead set against being pregnant. We have found lots of ways to have fun together during my fertile times that don't involve penetration. It is kind of like being a teenager again.....

I just started my last cycle of TTA though, next month is TTC!!!

[nichole]

During fertile times we use withdrawal plus a diaphragm. It would be neat to hear an update from the op!

[rhubarbarin]

I have been using withdrawel for almost 3 years now. No pregnancies that I know of.

If I was terrified at the thought of an accidental pregnancy I would use another method of birth control.. just in case. But I'm not. Now wouldn't be the most convinient time, but we'd work it out.

My DBF has excellent control and has never come close to coming inside me. Is the 80% effective statistic based on the assumption that there will be an accidental ejaculation inside, or partially in? Cause, I mean, we have a 100% success rate so far.

[llamalluv]

Originally Posted by Sk8ermaiden

And condoms are 2% effective with normal use. Withdrawl is 4% effective with normal use. So while condoms are obviously more effective, they are hardly hundreds of times more effective. We will take the 2% greater chance to not have to mess with condoms.

I think you have that flip-flopped. Condoms are considered 98% effective (with a 2% failure rate). That's with PERFECT use, using a PERFECT condom.

How often does "perfection" happen in the sack, though?

[JANmom13]

I imagine the risks vary from person to person and couple to couple.

I don't want to advocate for using it as a method, but I have to say that my husband and I have always used this method. Sometimes if I am more worried I will combine it with me watching the calendar and avoiding my fertile days, but I don't usually do this.

We have 3 kids, all planned, all happened within 1 month of starting to try.

Never any "accidents" using this method. We tried to be "good" and use condoms after DD#2, just because I got more worried about having an accidental pregnancy with having had 2 children, but neither of us liked using them.

I don't know if this method becomes less reliable over time, with age or anything...I have wondered this before.

[kissum]

I just had to giggle when I saw the OP is expecting! I guess we know how it worked out for her, huh?

[Kikelet]

I recently decided to go off BC after 8 years.. not because I want to conceive, but because I want to take a break from all the hormones!! For the past 3 months, I have been waiting to get Mirena, however my insurance has been giving me a hard time. I have also been charting (NFP) for these past 3 months, thanks to Taking Charge of Your Fertility. DBF and I have been using the withdrawal method along with NFP and have tried to be more careful during my fertile phase.

No pregnancies since going off BC, HOWEVER - this month I ovulated around October 15th, and DBF and I were intimate the 14th, 15th, and 17th. I have been feeling so awful these past few days. Yesterday I slept in until noon, napped from 5-9PM, then went to bed around 2AM and slept until 2PM today. I had a slight fever yesterday, but I feel a little better today. I am not one to sleep for hours on end. Could be that my body was fighting off an illness, but I'm more nervous about being pregnant than I have been in a long time.

QUESTION: Have any of you experienced the above symptoms a week or so after becoming pregnant?

I don't think the withdrawal method is something we're going to stick with, as I said, I'm waiting to get Mirena. I have not had any children - can't WAIT to be a mommy someday soon, but right now is just not the right time. I suppose it is irresponsible of us to be using withdrawal, ESPECIALLY during ovulation. Sure there are other ways in which we can please each other, but nothing is as wonderful as natural love making ^.^

I'm sure many women here experience the same toss-up; sure, it's effective most of the time, but I think we need to be able to accept a possible pregnancy.

[akaisha]

kikelet: it sounds more likely to me that you were fighting off a bug. i've never heard of a fever as an early pregnancy symptom myself, not to say it's not possible, but i think you were just sick.

we do withdrawal and if he wants to orgasm from DTD we stop and put on a condom, fertile time or not. otherwise we withdrawl a good bit before that point of no return and finish up, uh, other ways. we use FAM because now that i'm not on the pill i like to be on top of my fertility, but we rarely if ever have a condom on for the entire deed, even during fertile times. if i know i'm fertile, though, i make sure to ask/tell DF very clearly, do you want to get a condom/we should get one if we're going to continue just because i know i'm fertile so it's on my mind. it is nice to know, however, when i'm post ovulation so that if we did have an oops (not once in 5.5 years though) i would know we wouldn't have to worry about it. FWIW, we used the same withdrawal, condoms for finishing system even when i was on the pill but that was for different reasons than we do it now. i just didn't trust the pill to keep me from ovulating, i know too many birth control pill babies, lol. so we used the pill as a just in case of oops backup. i do trust my knowledge of FAM though, so it's just that i don't want semen inside me. i'm not a fan of the stuff and luckily DF isn't upset or offended by that, he totally understands.

[Kikelet]

Thanks Akaisha! I'm still feeling exhausted after about a week. My period is due in two days so we'll see what's up ^.^