The Need-To-Know Truth About The 'Pull-Out Method'

My first two pregnancies were very intentional. We planned, we plotted, we watched the calendar like a hawk. We decided we wanted to have two kids around two years apart, and it worked out beautifully.

I remember lying on the table for the six-week postpartum appointment after my second child was born and my doctor running through the list of birth control options, because we should be using something. I didn’t even listen, I was too exhausted and trying to fit in a mini-nap during my exam. I explained we were just using the “pull out” method — it was what we’d always used and it had always worked for us. I was honestly hoping he would just shut it and let me snooze.

He warned I was greatly increasing my chances of becoming pregnant again, and I ignored him. I knew I’d never remember to take a pill, having a shot sounded terrible, and I wasn’t ready for implanting something in my uterus just yet. Oh, and condoms? There was no way we were going back to those after not using them for so long, let’s be honest.

We had been playing the “pull out” game for quite some time, and it had literally always worked for us. He was quick on the withdraw. We were pros. Truthfully, I wasn’t concerned.

Oh, silly me.

I know exactly when it happened. We had a 2-year-old and a six-month-old at the time, which can limit your sexy time and energy by quite a bit. So it wasn’t hard to pick that time since it was the first time in months (literally) that we’d had sex. We didn’t do anything different, we weren’t cutting it closer than we had any other time, and he pulled out like usual.

But, this time, somehow those little swimmers made it to where they were supposed to go.

And now I have a boy who will be 12 this year because of it. My third child. I had three kids under 3, thanks to the pull-out method.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the withdrawal method is becoming very popular, and not just among married folks, either. Seems lots of people love playing the game of pulling out before the juice flows, despite the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and/or pregnancy.

Yeah, it feels good to go bare, but pulling out is an art if you will, and there’s no way to ensure you are doing it correctly. And the scary thing is, the data shows that 26.2% of males between the ages of 15 and 19 are relying on this to keep them from contracting diseases and risking pregnancy. Not good.

Even if you are able to pull out perfectly every time, 4% of couples can still become pregnant since pre-ejaculate can still contain live sperm. And live sperm can get you pregnant.

So, if you are in a committed, monogamous relationship, and don’t want to get pregnant, or risk diseases and pregnancy if you are more of a free bird, it’s worth it to cover up, and use the pull-out method as merely a back up in combo with other contraception methods.

I love my son and wouldn’t change our “surprise” for the world. But I will say he’s living proof that “pulling out” is not effective, and pre-ejaculate is the real deal. It only takes one time for one tiny little sperm to slip past the goalie and you’ve got another bun in the ol’ oven.

So, if you’re not looking to expand your family, put an insurance policy over that penis. Or plan to be surprised.