Coitus interruptus, also known as the withdrawal method, involves the male partner withdrawing his penis from the vagina before ejaculation to prevent pregnancy. Here are seven recommendations about this method:
- Effectiveness: Low efficacy rate, approximately 78% to 82% in typical use, and around 72% in perfect use per Planned Parenthood.
- Education: Appropriate for individuals seeking non-hormonal contraception options.
- Pre-ejaculation Chemistry: Sperm can be present in pre-ejaculate, posing a potential pregnancy risk.
- Consistency: Successful implementation requires strict self-control and high levels of fidelity between partners.
- Timeouts: Partner involvement is crucial for correct timing of withdrawal during intercourse.
- Psychological Factors: May lead to stress or trust issues if reliability is questioned.
- Health Risks: Does not protect against STIs, subjecting partners to potential infection risks.
Remember, it’s vital to discuss and consider all contraception options with a healthcare provider for effective family planning.
Source: 123rf
Young adult heterosexual couple lying on bed in bedroom
What is
Many couples use coitus interruptus as a method of contraception, although it is a very uncaring. But let’s see what this is all about.
I would start by explaining that what we commonly call ejaculation is a complex phenomenon coordinated by the central and peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system. Ejaculation consists of two phases that follow one another in sequence: the first phase is called the emission phase and is the phase during which the seminal fluid collects in the urinary tract, the second phase is called expulsion or ejaculation proper and is the phase during which the seminal fluid is expelled outward, through rhythmic contractions of the pelvic floor muscles and which is associated with the pleasurable sensation termed orgasm. The first phase is under voluntary control while the second phase is characterized by being inevitable.
Coitus interruptus is considered a contraceptive method defined as natural in the sense that It does not interfere with physiological reproductive function, nor does it interpose a barrier between seminal fluid and the cervical canal. It refers to the man’s practice of retracting from the vagina during penetrative intercourse at the moment when he feels that ejaculation is imminent, that is, before the muscular contractions that facilitate the release of seminal fluid occur.
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About one-fifth of sexual intercourse occur using coitus interruptus as a method of contraception. This means that about 20 percent of intercourse occurs using a unsafe method both for protection against unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. This is a particularly significant finding, especially when we consider that it is also a practice used by young people, including first-time users.
What are the risks
What risks do couples who use this habit face? The risks are obviously related to the failure of the method. The risk of pregnancy occurring using coitus interruptus ranges from as low as 4%-5% to about 18%-20%. We mentioned that the effectiveness of the method is related to the man’s ability to recognize the imminence of ejaculation and to retract in sufficient time for ejaculation to occur outside the vagina, so the risk increases with increasinginexperience of couples and especially of the man.
From what was said earlier with respect to the physiology of ejaculation, it is clear that safety runs on the edge of the recognition of premonitory signs of impending ejaculation. This ability to recognize and control is also acquired through sexual experience and the ability to read signals from one’s body. Young people can find more difficulty in this sense while having no clear perception of it.
Another important message to emphasize is that coitus interruptus in no way protects against the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and this should be kept in mind in terms of the risks on one’s health status. Sexually transmitted infections are an important and widespread problem, sometimes underestimated precisely because they often decay asymptomatically, so it is clear that a practice such as coitus interruptus can be a source of spreading STIs.
Another factor to consider is the sexual implications of a habit that forces a considerable control over ejaculation and thus over oneself. At the time of approaching ejaculation and orgasm. one cannot let go but on the contrary, at that very moment it is necessary to control oneself and the responsibility for what happens is precisely based on that kind of control; this can lead to the development of anxiety and stress related to sexual intercourse that can Deteriorate the quality of sexual intercourse same.
For this method of contraception to work, it is important that in the couple there is a good attunement and effective communication, which facilitates the maintenance of contact between the two as the partner pulls away and indulges in pleasure. In addition, another important aspect is that the couple Is aware of and accepts the risk Of a method with a wide margin of failure.
So, wanting to summarize the important points with respect to coitus interruptus:
- important control is needed during the sexual act;
- risky practice as a contraceptive because of the high risk of pregnancy;
- no protection with respect to sexually transmitted infections;
- lack of sharing an intense moment with a partner;
- risk of stress and anxiety related to ejaculatory control.
Currently, the landscape of contraceptive methods is very wide and varied, and the need to protect oneself increasingly central, better focus on something truly effective.