Birth control preferences vary from person-to-person and is simply a matter of finding the method that is compatible with their lifestyle and choices. Realizing that there are risks associated with any form of birth control, whichever method is used must be able to give the individual or the couple the results they’re looking for.
Since the goal of birth control methods is to prevent pregnancy, it’s important to look closely at the risks involved. The Withdrawal Method is a widely used form of birth control that many couples use to avoid pregnancy. Although the method is common, the pregnancy risks are very high and the method often fails.
During sex and in using the Withdrawal Method, the man removes his penis from the woman’s vagina before ejaculation so as to avoid the sperm uniting with the woman’s egg, which can cause pregnancy if the two join. However, during sex, small amounts of sperm can (and does) leak from the man’s penis and through the semen, travels into the woman’s vagina without detection from either person. By withdrawing before ejaculating, the couple may think that the sperm does not have the chance to reach the woman’s reproductive organs, but it does.
Studies on the male’s reproductive system show that in a normal male’s ejaculation, there are generally about 300-500 million sperm contained in the 1 teaspoon of fluid that they emit. That means that there are over 300-500 million chances in 1 that a pregnancy is likely to occur by using this method. This doesn’t mean that a pregnancy will or won’t occur, just that it’s likely.
By contrast, there are couples who have and continue to use this method as their main means of birth control, although the risks are great. While it is a personal choice, being informed about the risks are necessary in order to make an intelligent decision.
