Dr. Uche Agu, an Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku/Ozalla, Enugu State, has cautioned that the withdrawal method of contraception, commonly referred to as the “pull-out” method, remains an unreliable and ineffective means of preventing pregnancy.
According to Dr. Agu, women who rely on this traditional method of family planning remain at significant risk of unintended conception. He asserted that the withdrawal technique is fundamentally flawed due to its inherent inconsistencies and the high probability of failure associated with its use.
Speaking to PUNCH HealthWise, the maternal health expert acknowledged that while the method may appear to be effective for certain individuals, it lacks the scientific reliability required for consistent contraceptive outcomes.
Supporting this position, guidance from the Mayo Clinic indicates that the principal objective of the withdrawal method is to prevent sperm from entering the vaginal canal—an aim which, due to physiological and behavioral variables, is often not achieved.
According to the Mayo Clinic, statistical evidence demonstrates that approximately 20 percent—or one in five—couples who rely exclusively on the withdrawal method for a duration of one year will experience an unintended pregnancy. The Clinic further notes that, when compared to modern contraceptive methods, the withdrawal technique is markedly less effective in preventing conception.
Corroborating this data, Dr. Uche Agu, Associate Professor and Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, stated that the withdrawal method is fundamentally compromised by physiological limitations. Specifically, Dr. Agu emphasized that a significant number of men are unable to exercise sufficient control at the point of orgasm, often resulting in ejaculation within the vaginal canal prior to complete withdrawal.
He further observed that even in instances where some degree of control is exercised, pre-ejaculatory fluid—released before withdrawal—is capable of containing viable spermatozoa, thereby rendering the method inherently unreliable.
Dr. Agu elaborated: “The withdrawal method is a traditional form of contraception frequently adopted by individuals who, for various personal or cultural reasons, elect not to use medically approved contraceptive measures. These include barrier methods such as condoms, hormonal injectables, intrauterine devices (IUDs), and subdermal implants.”#newsafro_
