He Pulled Out It's Safe!
Thank goodness, he pulled out it's safe!! Or is it? The pull-out method or coitus interruptus is not a reliable birth control method and offers no protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Stats show this birth control option to be 78% effective, which means that over a year of employing this method, 22 out of 100 women conceive. In contrast, male condoms offer 98% protection against pregnancy when used correctly and every time during intercourse.
Apart from offering only limited protection against pregnancy and zero protection against sexually transmitted diseases, this birth control method requires a lot of control on the male partner's part as he needs to withdraw his penis from the vagina at just the right moment. This method will not work if the man cannot feel when he is close to ejaculation or if he is so overwhelmed by pleasure that he doesn't pull out his penis is time.
The biggest benefit to the pull-out method is that it does not involve any hormones or other chemicals to prevent pregnancy. The disadvantages however outweigh the benefits. Apart from not providing STD protection and being an ineffective method of birth control many couples feel that it gets in the way of sexual pleasure. There are also women who feel they have no control over the situation.
Should you however feel that you would like to try this birth control method, there are a few steps you can take that might make it a little more effective. The first step would be to use a fertility app to track your periods and ovulation. Once you have established your ovulation window, intercourse can be avoided completely, or the coitus interruptus method used. It is however of utmost important to remember that you can still conceive before and after ovulation.
Remember that sperm can live in your body for up to a week. Even if you are not ovulating when you have intercourse, if there's sperm in your reproductive tract, it may still be alive when you reach your ovulation period.
Another step would be to employ a backup birth control method in the form of a cervical cap, condom, spermicide, sponge or the pill. Combining the two birth control methods will significantly reduce your risk of conception.
You should take a pregnancy test if you are concerned that your partner did not pull out his penis in time or that there were sperm cells in his urethra from a recent ejaculation which mixed with pre-cum. You will have to wait until the first day of your missed period to obtain a reliable result. This is due to the fact that pregnancy tests detect a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin and mentioned hormone is only present once a fertilized egg is attached to the uterus.
Even if you feel you've used the coitus interruptus method perfectly, it is recommended that you take a pregnancy test if you notice any signs of early pregnancy. For example, cramps, sore breasts, nausea food aversions, fatigue or frequent urination.
