How effective is the pull out method?

This article is also available in Spanish.

What is the pull out method?

The pull out method (also known as withdrawal) is one of the oldest forms of birth control out there. It’s done by removing the penis from the vagina during sexual intercourse before the male ejaculates. While it sounds simple, this is easier said than done, and even when the pull out method is used correctly, there is still a risk of pregnancy.

How to use the pull out method 

• Always pull the penis out of the vagina before male orgasm
• The male partner should pee before sex to get rid of any sperm that may be lingering on the penis
• Clean hands or toys before putting them near the vagina (if these get ejaculate on them and this gets inside the vagina there is a risk of pregnancy)
• Increase the chances of preventing pregnancy by using another form of birth control (like the pill) at the same time
• Avoid using the pull out method during the fertile window as this is when you can get pregnant (consider other types of sex when there is a risk of pregnancy)

How the pull out method fails

The pull out method can fail in several ways, such as:

• The male doesn’t pull out in time and ejaculates inside the vagina
• Pre-ejaculate gets inside the vagina during intercourse 
• Ejaculate gets inside the vagina in another way (e.g., if it's on hands or sex toys)

If you’ve recently had sex and are worried about a potential pregnancy, you can take emergency birth control up to five days after unprotected sex.

How effective is pulling out?

20 out of 100 women will get pregnant during a year if they use the pull out method without another form of birth control. This is because pulling out is hard to time correctly, and even if a man does pull out in time, sperm can still get inside the vagina via pre-ejaculate which you can’t predict or control. 

Can you get pregnant if you use the pull out method?

Yes. If you are only using the pull out method as your form of birth control there is a real risk of you becoming pregnant. It’s best to use it as a backup for another method or in situations where it is your only option, as it is better than nothing.

Does the pull out method work when a woman isn’t ovulating?

This depends on what part of the cycle you use the pull out method. The fertile window is six days long. This includes the day of ovulation and six days prior as this is the length of time sperm can survive in the female reproductive system. 

If you use the pull out method outside of this fertile window you are protected against pregnancy because you’re not fertile. However, the closer you get to ovulation day within that five-day window beforehand the higher chances you will have of getting pregnant, even if you use the pull out method. 

Traditionally, knowing when you’re fertile has involved a lot of work, such as charting your own temperature data and keeping track of cervical mucus. However, there is a new way to find your fertility without all the hard work. We’ll cover how Natural Cycles can help you find your fertile days later in this article, so you can prevent pregnancy naturally. 

Does the pull out method protect against STIs?

No, pulling out does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. It’s important to use condoms to reduce the risk of STIs, as these act as a barrier that stops sexual fluid from mixing.

Benefits of the pull out method

• It’s free and available for everyone, and you don’t need a prescription to use it
• It’s better than nothing if you have no alternative way of preventing against pregnancy
• Unlike some other birth control methods, there are no side effects or health risks 

Disadvantages of the pull out method

• It’s not very effective; you are at risk of becoming pregnant every time you use it
• It’s hard to time when to pull out and requires the male partner to predict and act on this 
• Some people find it gets in the way of sexual pleasure as they have to think about when to pull out during intercourse

More effective hormone-free options

There are many reasons why couples choose to use the pull out method, including its accessibility, and if they’ve had a negative experience on other birth control methods. However, there are plenty of other hormone-free options you can consider using instead of or alongside the pull out method to bolster its effectiveness, including:

• The copper IUD: A non-hormonal intrauterine device, once it’s inserted, you don’t need to do anything for as long as 12 years; it’s more than 99% effective
• Natural Cycles: Hormone-free and non-invasive, Natural Cycles is the world’s first FDA Cleared birth control app; it’s 93% effective with typical use and 98% with perfect use
• Male condoms: Whether you use them every time you have sex or just during the fertile window, this barrier method is 87% effective with typical use, 98% with perfect use, and prevents against STIs
• Spermicide: A gel or cream that kills sperm; using spermicide can make the pull out method more effective, especially if used with another barrier method (on its own, spermicide is 79% effective with typical use and 84% with perfect use)

Discover more hormone-free birth control options, or discuss with your healthcare provider to find the right birth control option for you.

Find your fertile days with Natural Cycles

Are you looking for a natural contraceptive method that’s more effective than pulling out? Natural Cycles is a hormone-free birth control option that’s based on the science of your cycle. The algorithm uses body temperature to work out your fertile window so you know exactly when you’re fertile. We don’t recommend using the pull out method on fertile days and instead recommend you either abstain from sex or use a condom on fertile days. 

Looking for a non-hormonal, non-invasive birth control that’s free from side effects? Why not find out if Natural Cycles could work for you?