Is “pull and pray” an effective contraceptive method?

It’s perhaps the oldest contraceptive method to exist, but does the “pull and pray” method actually work? It’s a good question, and one Dr Sneha Wadhwani answered in a recent episode of LiSTNR’s new women’s health podcast, Everything from A to V: Decoding Women’s Health.

Hear the full episode:

Because in the ever-evolving landscape of human sexuality, there are some practices that have endured the test of time.

Picture this: A time when the word “contraceptive” didn’t even exist, when the modern marvels we know today like the IUD, the pill, even the condom seemed as far-fetched as a man coming… second.

In ancient civilizations, where science and superstition intertwined, our ancestors did seek ways to navigate this delicate dance between pleasure and procreation.

Cocktails of lead and mercury were served in ancient China, and in medieval Europe, women would adorn their garters with a weasel testicle – yes, the testicle of woodland rodent – to prevent getting pregnant.

Unsurprisingly, adding more testicles into the mix oddly didn’t decrease the number of pregnancies. Funny that.

But the method known in nearly every corner on the earth – even today – is the trusty old “Pull-Out” method, also known as the withdrawal method, pull and pray or in medical terms, coitus interruptus.

Incredibly, the pull-out method is getting more popular among young people. In fact, a CDC report found that although condoms were the most populate contraceptive among young women, the second most popular was the pull-out method – with 60% of adolescent girls reporting to have used it.

So, it begs the question… is the longest-surviving human birth-control method – pull-and pray – all that it’s cracked up to be?

Listen below:

Delving into a wide range of topics such as menopause, bladder health, STI’s, care for down there, IVF and more, Everything from A to V sifts through medical fact and fiction, providing you with the knowledge needed to confidently take charge of your health.