Coitus interruptus
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Coitus interruptus, also known as withdrawal or the pull out method, is a method of contraception in which, during sexual intercourse, the man removes his penis from the woman's vagina just before he reaches orgasm. That way, the ejaculation of semen is not in the vagina but elsewhere. This method has been widely used for at least 2,000 years and was used by an estimated 38 million couples worldwide in 1991 (Population Action International).
Used by itself, coitus interruptus is unreliable, because of the difficulty of controlling the process of ejaculation. It has been suggested that the pre-ejaculate ("Cowper's fluid"), fluid emitted by the penis prior to ejaculation, contains spermatozoa (sperm cells), and is easily drawn into the vagina by capillary action. However, modern research[1] has shown that in fact there are no viable sperm in the fluid, and the primary cause of failure of this method of contraception is the lack of self-control of those using it: interrupting just at climax can be psychologically difficult, as it goes against the natural instinct to ejaculate deeply within the vagina. It is also largely ineffective in the prevention of STDs, since pre-ejaculate may carry viral particles or bacteria which may infect the partner should the fluid come in contact with mucous membranes. However, a reduction in the volume of bodily fluids exchanged during intercourse may reduce the likelihood of disease transmission due to the smaller number of pathogens present.
The advantage of coitus interruptus is that it can be used by people who have religious objections against or do not have access to other forms of contraception. It has no cost, requires no artificial devices, has no physical side effects, and can be practiced without a prescription or medical consultation. The disadvantage, as stated, is that it can be unreliable.
The Bible mentions this method in the story of Onan.
According to a widely circulated joke, the obstetrics and gynaecology nurses' argot term for a woman relying on "the natural method" is "mother". In actuality, being educated about different forms of natural methods and combining them can improve the effect. According to Emory University, withdrawal has a typical failure rate of 19%. However, for the couples that use this method correctly, the failure rate is 4% [2]. In comparison the pill has a first-year failure rate of 5%, which drops to about 0.1% if used correctly [3] while the diaphragm has a typical user failure rate of 20% and a perfect user failure rate of 6% [4].
This method has many nicknames, the most popular of which is "the Hail Mary" due to its low rate of success as well as its connotations for use in the Catholic community, even though the Catholic Church considers this practice as a form of masturbation. The dated Australian slang term 'getting off at Redfern' derives its meaning from the location of Redfern's CityRail suburban train station, which is situated one stop from Sydney's Central railway station. Most CityRail suburban train lines pass through Redfern en-route to Central, making Redfern the second-last stop for many commuters. To 'get off at Redfern', therefore, means to interrupt one's journey just before completion.
See also
References
- Population Action International (1991). "A Guide to Methods of Birth Control." Briefing Paper No. 25, Washington, D. C.
- Rogow, Deborah, and Horowitz, Sonya. (1995). "Withdrawal: A Review of the Literature and an Agenda for Research." Studies in Family Planning. Vol 26, No 3 (May-June 1995), pp. 140-153.de:Coitus interruptus
es:Coitus interruptus fr:Coït interrompu it:Coito interrotto lt:Nutrauktoji sueitis nl:Coitus interruptus pl:Stosunek przerywany fi:Keskeytetty yhdyntä sv:Coitus interruptus