Got protection? Study finds pulling out effective
By Marissa Cumbers (Last updated: 06/07/09 11:37pm)The pushy guy you hooked up with after $2-pitcher night might have had real evidence when he slurred, “It’s OK, baby, I’ll just pull out.”
The pull-out method, often considered for those “better-than-nothing” situations, competes with condoms in effectiveness, according to a study published in the June issue of Contraception magazine. The study found that pulling out, also known as the withdrawal method, has a 4 percent error rate of pregnancy during the course of a year in perfect use, while condoms have a 2 percent error rate in perfect use.
According to the study, perfect use does not take into account user error, and typical use provides a more realistic estimation of effectiveness. In typical use, the withdrawal method has an 18 percent error rate of pregnancy and condoms have a 17 percent error rate.
Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, which conducts research women’s health, was one of the study’s researchers and said the study stemmed from other research suggesting withdrawal might be a more frequently used type of contraception than previously believed.
“There are often a lot of myths out there about a lot of different contraception methods,” Blanchard said. “This proves in circumstances where you may not have access to another method, then withdrawal is certainly something to consider and definitely better than nothing.”
In a 2008 survey of more than 1,600 MSU students by the National College Health Assessment, 5.2 percent said they used the withdrawal method the last time they had vaginal intercourse and 21 percent said they used this method at least once. Darnell Yelder, a criminal justice junior, admitted to having tried the method but emphasized it should be used by people in committed relationships.
“The pull-out method is wonderful,” Yelder said. “It works all the time if you are in a relationship and dating that person exclusively.”
Although the study said pulling out rivals the effectiveness of condoms, Dennis Martell, coordinator of Olin Health Center education, said holding fire isn’t something men should practice just yet. Martell said timing of a man’s ejaculation is unpredictable and attempting to control ejaculation is unnatural.
“The withdrawal method has all kinds of problems, including that most men don’t know when they reach ejaculative inevitability,” Martell said. “It is not the natural inclination for men to stop and withdraw during consensual vaginal intercourse.”
With the withdrawal method, user error is much more likely, Martell said.
“(Withdrawal) is on the top of our list for user malfunctions,” he said. “Withdrawal method can work if everything goes perfectly right, and there is no pre-ejaculant.”
In addition to the risk of user malfunctions, pulling out offers no protection against sexually transmitted infections. Lansing Community College student Will Dunlap said transmission of diseases is a concern when considering this method.
“You should be using protection anyway,” Dunlap said. “Basically, it should be like an at-risk exercise.”
Jessica Johnson, a medical graduate student and former vice president of MSU’s Medical Students for Choice, said a study such as this could potentially misinform people about viable contraception.
“I think it’s a little worrisome that that sort of study would be out there,” Johnson said. “When you consider contraception, you consider the risk of STIs and birth control. There is no way the withdrawal method would be more safe in terms of preventing STIs and even for reducing pregnancy.”
The study does address STIs, suggesting further research should be done to determine if consistent use of withdrawal reduces transmission. The study concludes by suggesting withdrawal might not be as effective as other methods, but it is better than nothing and should be addressed as a legitimate contraceptive.
“What we are saying is that when you provide information about contraceptives … it should be covered so that people understand how effective (withdrawal) is compared to other methods,” Blanchard said. “We want people to understand if you are going to use it, how to use it correctly. We are not suggesting that it be promoted over other methods, but I think what we are suggesting is that … there needs to be room to talk about the use of withdrawal.”
Originally Published: 06/07/09 11:30pm
Seriously?
06/08/09 12:16amPlease tell me this isn’t on the front page. I think we have a new winner for the term “Slow News Day.”
Macklin
06/08/09 12:59amContraception magazine: It arrives at your door with the pages already stuck together.
Ginny
06/08/09 2:31amlol Macklin!
Rob
06/08/09 8:46amSlow news day? That’s the understatment of the year. This is the best we could come up with for the front page of the newspaper? Pathetic.
Dantern
06/08/09 8:54amDoes this girl even work for The State News?
Pathetic
06/08/09 8:56amWhy is this on the front page? This is probably the fifth news story of the summer that probably shouldn’t have even been published but somehow made it to the front page.
Rachel
06/08/09 9:17amFrom the people I know who use this particular “method,” it is usually used in a situation when they are drunk, stoned, or both. With this in mind, I find it hard to believe that it would be used “perfectly” in most situations.
And the fact that this made the front cover is just sad.
Me. myself and I
06/08/09 9:22amTrue it isn’t full proof, but it does seem to work. And if you don’t like condoms and how they feel or birthcontrol becasue it doesn’t feel natural,this can work pretty well. However I wouldn’t take the chance unless I was in a committed relationship. Boy some people type and read fast unlike me. I Oops when I type fast….
Oh Boy Joy
06/08/09 9:26am“The pushy guy you hooked up with after $2-pitcher night might have had real evidence when he slurred, “It’s OK, baby, I’ll just pull out.”
What pitcher ever costs $2.00, and ladies a pushy guy isn’t worth a $2.00 pitcher of beer, especially some guy you hooked up with.
Ladies make the guy that you want to be with, be a guy who has to work for your affection, don’t sell yourself short. You will wake up feeling much better about yourself.
Wow
06/08/09 9:30amYou are kidding me there is a magazine out there called “Contraception magazine.” Sounds like some people have nothing better to read.
of course
06/08/09 9:45amhey, upper management of the paper, this is pretty trashy. i am a liberal college kid and still find this a dumb idea for a centerpiece. you aren’t cosmo.
I would not have known
06/08/09 10:04amAccording to the study, perfect use does not take into account user error, and typical use provides a more realistic estimation of effectiveness. In typical use, the withdrawal method has an 18 percent error rate of pregnancy and condoms have a 17 percent error rate.”
I am suprised to see how close the percentages are, very interesting….
So what is this article advocating
06/08/09 10:24amIs it advocating pulling out as a method of birth control? Because they are showing us that it is a second runner up to the condom, as far as birth control, that is with all the percentages and all. But that it should be avoided to keep from getting STI’s. The only concern this article seems to show about the method is whether the guy will pull out on time or not as stated here“(Withdrawal) is on the top of our list for user malfunctions,” he said. “Withdrawal method can work if everything goes perfectly right, and there is no pre-ejaculant.”
msu grad student
06/08/09 10:30amI have always thought that MSU encouraged students to become raging alcoholics for a number of reasons, one of them being the bar ads published on the back pages of the student run newspaper. Now, I see the front page tells students to forget about condoms. what next? Russian Roulette as a new varsity sport?
Great Point^
06/08/09 10:35amLeave the Pulling out method of birth control, to married couples who don’t have to worry about unwanted pregnancy, because that won’t be an issue. Single college students need to think about safety first, to avoid unwanted pregnancy and STI’s. Better Safe than Sorry.
Love those second liners..
06/08/09 10:37amCatchy and funny at the same time.
Beth
06/08/09 10:44amAs an MSU Journalism Graduate from 2004, I am disgusted by this article!!!! Not only because it’s condoning a method of birth control to MSU students, but also because it IS NOT State News material! Has the Journalism department gone that downhill that THIS is considered an actual article of interest?
Whoever is the State News editor now should be ashamed of themselves…
But boy have they gotten the comments
06/08/09 10:49amIt reminds me a little of Octomom.
Go
06/08/09 10:52amBeth, you clearly have not read this rag in a while. Snoop around. It will blow your mind. And I’m sorry.
Front Page?
06/08/09 10:55amI agree this should NOT be front page, nor even in The State News! Maybe the paper should go on summer break with the rest of the school.
Abstinence is always a good idea
06/08/09 11:00amWhat happened to waiting till you’re married? How come no one ever encourages that any more? Is it because it is unrealistic or because they don’t believe people can actually control their sexual desries?
How come I am not as offended as I should be?
06/08/09 11:06amI am the conservative one here….and I don’t understand why I am not more offened than I am. Seeing that a liberal college student said that they are offended that this is even in the paper at all. What is happening to me these past few months, I think that my mind is becoming a little to open, hum I wonder?
Ben
06/08/09 11:21amAbstinence?
Its not mentioned because it is unrealistic and not natural. We are not hard wired to wait until we are married. Lets teach actual sex education instead of the absurd idea of abstinence. It has proven ineffective.
Great quote
06/08/09 11:24am‘The pull-out method is wonderful,” Yelder said. “It works all the time if you are in a relationship and dating that person exclusively.”
If your Mom reads the paper she is going to know what you’ve been up to.
And if your girlfriend’s Mom reads the paper she is going to know what your girlfriend has been up to. ;)
Yellow_Journo
06/08/09 12:45pmDid Dr. D. write this?