What one method of birth control do you most often use?

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this thing is MADE for forgetful people like myself!!!

I've been using the withdrawal method for over 8 months straight.
and no pregnancy.

so I dont think it's as risky as it's made out to be.

Just understand that with any method, effectiveness rates are for one full year, not from day to day.

EVERY method can and does fail. It's just a matter of how often. Every method can also be a good one, but for people looking for the highest effectiveness, withdrawal alone is less effective than most other methods, especially in typical use.

Editor & Founder, Scarleteen: Sex Ed for the Real World
Author, S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and Col

...like most other methods, efficacy depends a lot on use. In perfect use, withdrawal is 96% effective. That's a lower perfect use rate than many other methods, however 4% is still a very low risk. So, if you and your partner (withdrawal is the only method where it's really all about what the male partner does, which is why it's not a great method for many women who want full or at least partial control over their own pregnancy prevention) keep on using it perfectly, and for sure, it can offer you some very good protection.

It's perhaps also worth noting that efficacy stats for every method are based on one full year of use.

Editor & Founder, Scarleteen: Sex Ed for the Real World
Author, S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and Col

Love it. I'm a forgetful person, too, and not having to remind myself everyday for a pill is great! I still use condoms on top of the shot, however. I ain't wantin' no babies, ya know?

Condoms for safety, the pill just in case! Switching to the ring for various reasons, but will continue to use condoms all the time!

My boyfriend and I have been using the withdrawal method for a very long time. And have never had a problem with pregnancy. Like mentioned above it is not a method good if you (female) want some control. It is based on trust of your partner being able to actually "pull out" in time. I would not recommend it unless you have a steady partner that you know very well. We both started with using condoms until we felt comfortable trying a new method. The stats as mentioned above are also a very good consideration; condoms have a 3% failure rate which is not much less than the 4% of withdrawal. But the point is doing what you are both most comfortable with. If your going to be worrying the whole time it is not worth the stress.

(Minor correction because it's important the info we have here on methods is accurate, condoms have a 2% failure rate in perfect use, withdrawal that 4%. In typical use, condoms are 85% effective, whereas withdrawal is 73-82 effective. Just for those deciding between the two per effectiveness.)

Editor & Founder, Scarleteen: Sex Ed for the Real World
Author, S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and Col

Just thought you'd be interested to know that even before your boyfriend cums, there are still sperm floating around inside of you and a certain chemical he releases that regulated the PH in your vagina to make it suitable for sperm to enter and impregnate you. I would NEVER EVER suggest this to be a good method.

It sounds like you misunderstand how pre-cum, semen, and sperm all work. Semen and sperm are released upon ejaculation (some men do leak semen and sperm slightly before ejaculation, so for couples using withdrawal, it should be discussed whether this happens to the male partner). Pre-cum is fluid that is released prior to ejaculation, and typically contains no semen. If a male has not urinated since his last ejaculation, there is a slight chance that sperm may still be present in his urethra, and come out with the pre-cum. Therefore, it is also good practice to have the male partner urinate prior to sex for couples depending on withdrawal. The vagina is very acidic, and semen is the fluid that protects the sperm from the low vaginal pH which will destroy sperm. However, again, semen and sperm are not released prior to ejaculation (except in rare cases of pre-ejaculatory leaking and leftover sperm in pre-cum), so it is not true to say that there are sperm floating around inside.

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