A survey carried out by the Irish Family Planning Association (IFPA) and Durex discovered that a third of Irish adults are using or have previously used the “withdrawal method” to avoid pregnancy.
The survey of 1,001 women and man ages 18 and over found that the use of the withdrawal method as contraception was highest among 18 to 34 year olds, and also revealed that 38% of adults use no contraception at all.
Of those surveyed, more than 70% were in committed relationships, and that 24% of the women surveyed had experienced an unplanned or ‘crisis’ pregnancy, which is classified by IFPA as a pregnancy which is neither planned nor desired.
Dr Caitriona Henchion, Medical Director of the IFPA said: “Women of all reproductive ages in Ireland experience pregnancies that are unplanned, unwanted or represent a crisis to them.
“If a pregnancy would be a crisis for a woman or couple, then it makes sense to use a contraceptive method they can rely on.
“But this recent research shows that almost 1 in 10 couples are using an unreliable method – withdrawal – rather than condoms or other reliable methods of contraception.
“This is really concerning and shows that there is a need for more education and knowledge so that women are empowered to make the choice of contraceptive that’s best for them.”
About 27 out of 100 women who use withdrawal get pregnant every year, compared to the contraceptive implant with which less than 1 in 1000 women using it over 3 years will become pregnant.
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