Withdrawal, also knows as “coitus interruptus,” is the removal of the penis from a partner’s vagina before ejaculation, or coming. Withdrawal may be the most common method of birth control since it’s free and always an option for preventing contact between egg and sperm, reducing the possibility of an unintended pregnancy. To ensure no sperm enter the vagina during sex, the male partner should urinate and wipe the tip of the penis before intercourse. During sex, partners can have vaginal-penile sex until the male partner nears ejaculation. It is likely that pre-ejaculate fluid will enter the vagina, but this should not contain sperm nor lead to an unplanned pregnancy. The effectiveness of withdrawal depends on communication between partners before and during sex, as well as the male partner's knowledge and experience with his own body. Withdrawal may not be effective if the male partner is unable to withdraw before his orgasms. Partners who are less experienced with withdrawal may have a higher risk of pregnancy during their first attempts with this method. Teens are the age group for which this method is the least effective. To increase effectiveness, new partners may also want to use spermicide or fertility awareness methods to learn when pregnancy is more or less likely in a female partner's menstrual cycle.
While withdrawal has been criticized as a non-method, it is 73-96% effective for birth control, depending on the male partner’s self-knowledge and self-control. While 85% of heterosexual partners who use chance are likely to become pregnant in a year, only19% of partners who use withdrawal get their partners pregnant. Withdrawal does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS.