Well, we actually KNOW how reliable it is though - it has a 19% failure rate, with typical use (http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html). And of course, since that's a typical use stat, it does account for all those factors that you mentioned. The perfect use failure rate is 4%
And just for comparisons sake, the female condom has a 21% typical use failure rate. (In fact, even the perfect use rates follow that trend - the female condom has a higher perfect use failure rate than withdrawal does.) Diaphrams have a 20% failure rate, with a 6% perfect use rate.
Anyway, I totally respect everyone's personal decision about what type of contraception is right for them. I just like to challenge the idea that withdrawal is so much worse than some of the other options that are widely regarded as "effective enough." I probably wouldn't use withdrawal...but I wouldn't use a diaphram or female condom either.
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Date: 2009-04-25 07:37 pm (UTC)And just for comparisons sake, the female condom has a 21% typical use failure rate. (In fact, even the perfect use rates follow that trend - the female condom has a higher perfect use failure rate than withdrawal does.) Diaphrams have a 20% failure rate, with a 6% perfect use rate.
Anyway, I totally respect everyone's personal decision about what type of contraception is right for them. I just like to challenge the idea that withdrawal is so much worse than some of the other options that are widely regarded as "effective enough." I probably wouldn't use withdrawal...but I wouldn't use a diaphram or female condom either.