What Is Withdrawal? Withdrawal, also called pulling out, is when a male removes his penis from the vagina before he ejaculates during sex. How Does Withdrawal Work? By trying to keep sperm from entering the vagina, a person using withdrawal hopes to prevent pregnancy. How Well Does Withdrawal Work? Over the course of a year, about 22 out of 100 typical couples who use withdrawal alone to prevent pregnancy will have an accidental pregnancy. Even for people who think they are doing it correctly, withdrawal is not an effective way to prevent pregnancy. Without the guy knowing, some sperm leak out of the penis even before ejaculation. This means that even if the guy pulls out before he ejaculates, a girl can still become pregnant. Also, if the guy ejaculates close to the outside of the vagina, the sperm can swim up into the vagina. However, withdrawal is considered a better method of contraception than none at all. Does Withdrawal Help Prevent STDs? No. Withdrawal does not protect against STDs. Couples having sex must always use condoms to protect against STDs even when using another method of birth control. When Should I Call the Doctor? A girl who uses withdrawal should call the doctor if she: might be pregnant has a change in the smell or color of vaginal discharge has unexplained fever or chills has belly or pelvic pain has pain during sex Back to Articles Related Articles Emergency Contraception Emergency contraception is a way to prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex; for example, if a condom breaks or slips off during sex. It is also available to teens who are forced to have unprotected sex. Read More Talking to Your Partner About Condoms Some people - even those who are having sex - are embarrassed by the topic of condoms. Here are some tips for talking about condoms with your partner. Read More Birth Control Methods: How Well Do They Work? Some birth control methods work better than others. This chart compares how well different birth control methods work. Read More How Can I Get on the Pill Without Telling My Parents? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Do You Need a Pelvic Exam to Get Birth Control? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More Does Douching Prevent Pregnancy? Find out what the experts have to say. Read More STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) You've probably heard lots of discouraging news about sexually transmitted diseases. The good news is that STDs can be prevented. Find out how to protect yourself. Read More The IUD Before you consider having sex, you need to know how to protect yourself. Learn more about the IUD and to find out how well it works for teens. Read More Gyn Checkups Girls should get their first gynecological checkup between ages 13 and 15. Find out what happens during a yearly gyn visit -- and why most girls don't get internal exams. Read More About Birth Control Before you consider having sex, you need to know how to protect yourself. Read this article to get the basics on birth control. Read More Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor. © 1995-2021 KidsHealth®. All rights reserved. Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.