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 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 Fertility Awareness Learn what the fertility awareness (rhythm method) of birth control is and how it works - and some of the reasons why it might not work for teens. Read More Sexual Development Big physical and emotional changes happen during puberty and the teen years. These articles can help you become a source of information, comfort, and support for your kids. Read More About Birth Control: What Parents Need to Know Talking to your kids about sex can be a challenge. But discussing issues like birth control can help lower teens' risk of unintended pregnancy or getting an STD. Read More Condoms Condoms may be a good birth control option for couples who are responsible enough to use one each time and people who want protection against STDs. Read More Withdrawal Before you consider having sex, you need to know how to protect yourself. Learn about withdrawal - and whether it's effective at preventing pregnancy and STDs. Read More STDs Parents should learn about the most common STDs, how they spread, and how they're diagnosed and treated. Read More Questions and Answers About Sex Answering kids' questions about sex is a responsibility many parents dread. But by answering these questions honestly, parents can help foster healthy feelings about sex. 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 Your Daughter's First Gynecology Visit The idea of going to the gynecologist may make your daughter feel nervous. Here's how to make her feel more comfortable about a well-woman visit. 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.