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How does withdrawal work?
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As the ejaculation does not take place inside the vagina, the sperm does not come in contact with a woman's eggs and fertilization cannot occur. However, sperm may be present in the pre-ejaculatory fluid, or precum, that comes out of the penis before ejaculation, and may cause pregnancy.
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What if the man does not manage to withdraw his penis from the vagina before he ejaculates?
Upon ejaculation sperm swim very in the vagina, up through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes, where they can join with the egg (if an egg is present). If the couple doesn't want children, the woman should use an emergency contraceptive as soon as possible. |
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Why is the effectiveness of withdrawal so low with typical use?
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The withdrawal effectiveness rate is 81% with typical use, which means 19 women out of 100 women whose partners are using withdrawal will get pregnant. This is usually due to a man’s inability to control ejaculation and that sperm may be present in the pre-ejaculatory fluid (precum) that comes out of the penis before ejaculation. When either of these situations occur, there is an increased chance that the sperm will reach the woman's egg, fertilize it, and cause pregnancy.
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How does calendar method work?
A woman should identify the period during which she is fertile (an egg is released from the ovum and ready for fertilization). Couples either stop sexual intercourse or use another contraceptive such as condoms, during this fertile period to prevent pregnancy . |
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How does one use the calendar method?
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For at least 6 menstrual cycles, a woman should note the dates her menses starts and ends.
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Calculate the number of days between the end day and the last day before the next menses begins.
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Pick out the longest number and the shortest number.
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To guess the expected fertile time, subtract 18 from the shortest cycle and subtract 11 from the longest cycle. (Example: If the shortest cycle is 27 days and the longest is 32 days: (27-18 = 9) & (32-11 = 21), a woman’s fertile period starts day 9 of her menstrual cycle and continues until day 21.)
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The couple should abstain from sex during this period or use a back up method, such as condoms.
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Are there any side effects associated with natural methods?
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No physical side effects are associated with natural methods, however, due to the high failure rate of such methods, a woman might be worried about becoming pregnant. Also, since couples should abstain from sex for several days each month in order for the method to be effective, it might affect them negatively.
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Can all women use the calendar method?
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No, not all women can use SDM; it can be used only by a woman whose menstrual cycle ranges from 26-32 days.
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How does the calendar method work?
For women whose menstrual cycles ranges from 26-32 days, the fertile period during which a woman can become pregnant starts from day 8 of her menses until day 19. Therefore, couples either stop sexual intercourse or use another contraceptive method during this fertile period to prevent pregnancy, such as condoms. |
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How is the calendar method used?
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For at least 6 menstrual cycles, a woman should schedule the dates of when her menses starts and ends.
Calculate the number of days between the end day and the last day before the next menses starts.
Pick out the longest number and the shortest number; if they range between 26 – 32 days; it means you can use the SDM. If the shortest cycle is less than 26 days or the longest exceeds 32 days, you cannot use SDM.
Couple needs to abstain from sex during the period between day 8 of the menstrual cycle until day 19 (which equals 12 days) or to use a back up method, such as condoms.
In some countries there is a set of beads designed especially for SDM users, called the CycleBead, that women can use to guide them on their fertile period.
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