Teen FAQ
For over 10 years, teens have been asking us questions on every topic imaginable. While we are no longer taking new questions, we have a wealth of information we would like to share with teenagers.
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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Birth Control & Safer Sex > Withdrawal
Posted on: 06/18/2007
Question
Is withdrawal effective? By what percent? And how much does it cost?
Answer
Withdrawal is not a birth control method - it means that a man pulls his penis out of the vagina before he ejaculates (cums)- so that most of the sperm do not get into the vagina. The problem is that sperm are always sort of leaking when a penis is erect, and it is difficult for a man to withdraw his penis before he cums, so for many reasons, this is not a form of birth control (http://www.pamf.org/teen/sex/birthcontrol/).
To protect from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, a woman should use a reliable method of birth control, and a condom each and every time she has oral, vaginal, or anal sex. Please consider all the risks associated with sex before making a decision to become sexually active!