CONTRACEPTION...CONTINUED

 METHODS OF CONTRACEPTION

 PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

85% of women will get pregnant in one year if they have a normal sex life, and

do not use any contraception. In days gone by they used abstinence.

Withdrawal (coitus interruptus)

This is the oldest form of birth control which is still in practice today. It is also referred to as “The Pull out Method”. The male partner should be experienced enough to know when to pull out before he ejaculates. Even a small drop of semen fallen on the vulva can make this method fail. The other problem is with preejaculate which can sometimes carry sperm. Before your partner starts it is a good idea to pass urine and clean the penis. Make sure as best as you can, that he does not have any STI’s. This is often difficult, as both of you may be intoxicated or drug affected after a party, and withdrawal is the only contraception you can use. If you are young and naive this can be worse. My Idea of sex is for pleasure and relaxation, but if you depend on withdrawal it is risky and takes the pleasure away.

If both of you are focusing on withdrawal   and not relaxing, it creates tension and in my experience of medical practice, I have found that these women suffered anxiety and back aches, maybe from pelvic congestion. I have not come across any documented research on this at this time.

The other very important fact is that this does not protect you from STI’s.

If you are likely to be caught in a situation like this it may be prudent for you to carry a condom. Better to be safe than sorry.

The failure rate of pregnancy after withdrawal varies between 4 to 22 %.If you think you are at a fertile time of the menstrual cycle; “mid cycle” you can seek emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy, which I will discuss in further blogs

In summary the withdrawal method is excellent particularly if practiced by regular monogamous partners. It has no cost, no hormones, no side effects, no change in menstrual cycle, better partner communication, better for some religious groups and it is better than using nothing.

The big disadvantage to this is there is no protection from STI’s. Nervous anxiety about withdrawal takes the pleasure away.

In my view we should educate couples who have no access to other methods on how to improve the performance of the withdrawal method; for example pass urine before starting and wash the penis.