Is the pullout method fine actually?
Researchers argue it's almost as effective as male condoms for pregnancy prevention.
This week we have a spicy one…
Our whole lives, we’ve been told the pullout—or withdrawal—method is not a legitimate form of birth control, and actually a fast track to becoming a parent. Some have even referred to it as the “pull-and-pray” method.
But reproductive health researcher Andréa Becker makes the argument that the pullout method “is not the enemy of public health it’s been made out to be”. She points to research that shows that it’s nearly as effective as male condoms in preventing pregnancy, if done correctly.
(Apple, Spotify, YouTube, & Others)
Pre-order Andréa’s book Get It Out: On the Politics of Hysterectomy.
If you liked this episode, check out Ep 03: Why Are Slurs Making a Comeback?
Additional links:
The Pleasure Deficit: Revisiting the ‘‘Sexuality Connection’’ In Reproductive Health
Trends in U.S. adolescent sexual behavior and contraceptive use, 2006-2019
Contraceptive failure rates: New estimates for individual methods and method combinations
If you have a conspiracy theory that deep down in your heart you believe, email us a voice memo at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com and we may feature you in an upcoming episode.
If you like what you’ve heard and read, please share with a friend and leave a ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ rating wherever you listen to podcasts, it really helps people find the show. Throw us a follow on Instagram where you can see us in the flesh.
She really buried the lead - she eventually said you should only use this method if you feel "ambivalent" towards getting pregnant. Um, no. Also, it's impossible to know when you're ovulating without sophisticated testing, as menstrual cycles are far more variable than you think - that's why people who use these methods (and the so-called "calendar method") are called parents.
This felt like RFK sponsored the podcast.