How effective is the pullout, really?

[jaggednib.livejournal.com]

 My boyfriend and I were having a discussion about the pullout method.  While I, personally, would never use the pullout method, my boyfriend told me that he thinks its an ignorant form of birth control.
My argument is that for consenting couples who make the informed decision to use the pullout method, all the power to them.
My boyfriend on the other hand thinks that "ignorant behaviour like that is the reason for so many unwanted pregnancies and STI's." 

I was always taught that the pullout method was NOT a viable form of birth control and that it was stupid to even try to tempt fate by using it. 
My boyfriend says that using this method is comparable to still believing that the world is flat. I told him that I'm pretty sure it's the other way around and that his outdated thinking is actually like saying the world is flat.

Since I've started reading this site, I've never heard of so many people using the pullout method before. Now I'm curious, are there are scientific facts/stats that you could link me to stating that what I've been taught in my earlier life might actually be wrong? 
I would love to have something to show my boyfriend that it's not as "dumb" as he thinks it is. 
I would even appreciate any anecdotes about people who have used only the pullout for X amount of months/years and never even had a pregnancy scare. 

Also, when does one actually pullout? Just before ejaculation? A while before ejaculation to prevent the precum from impregnating the woman?
I don't mean to offend anyone with these questions, I'm just curious where I could get more information because my boyfriend is quite adamant that this is the single most ridiculous method of birth control he's ever heard of and I'm not so sure I agree. 

Comments

[tokio.livejournal.com]

Or, as an aside, the withdrawal method is also viable for people comfortable with their STD status within a group of partners. :) I'm not trying to play the devil's advocate here; I know that STDs can often be symptomless. I don't think the pull out method necessarily has to be used within the context of a monogamous relationship. A trusting relationship probably helps with the efficacy rates of withdrawal because communication between partners is more likely to aid in the proper timing of withdrawal.

[1girl.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I get what you're saying. Basically I meant any relationship in which you* trust your partner(s) to be STD free.

*universal you

[tokio.livejournal.com]

I knew you weren't trying to be "narrow-minded," or even insinuating you don't know this (I wanted to clarify that for the record). I just wanted to provide an alternate scenario for the OP or any other curious readers of this post. Sometimes I feel like use of the word monogamous in relation to contraceptives can be alienating, so I like to expound.