Pulling out: can you still get pregnant?

Yes. Pulling out before ejaculation (also called the withdrawal method) lowers the chance of pregnancy compared with no contraception at all, but it often fails. Here’s why, what the numbers are, and what you can do if you’re worried you might be pregnant.

How often does pulling out fail?

According to the World Health Organization’s family planning handbook:

If it’s done correctly every single time, about 4 in 100 women get pregnant in a year.
As people usually use it, about 20 in 100 women get pregnant in a year, or 1 in 5.

For comparison, condoms are up to 98% effective when used correctly every time, and 82% effective as they’re often used. Brook, the sexual health charity, says pulling out isn’t a method of contraception at all.

Why it fails

Pre-cum can contain sperm

Before ejaculation, a small amount of fluid (pre-ejaculate, or pre-cum) comes out of the penis. In one study, 11 of 27 men (41%) had sperm in their pre-cum, and in 10 of them a reasonable proportion of the sperm could swim. Some men had sperm in it and some didn’t, so there’s no way to know if it applies to you.

Timing is hard

Pulling out in time every time is hard, especially if you’ve been drinking or using drugs. And it’s possible, though the risk is very low, to get pregnant without penetration, for example if he ejaculates very close to your vagina.

Is it more likely at certain times of the month?

Yes. Pregnancy can only happen around ovulation, but sperm can survive for up to 7 days, and ovulation moves from cycle to cycle. That means there’s no day of the month you can be sure is safe. Read your fertile window explained.

Worried right now? Emergency contraception

If you’ve had sex in the last 5 days and don’t want to be pregnant, emergency contraception can help. The sooner you use it, the more effective it usually is:

A copper IUD (coil) can be fitted within 5 days (120 hours). It’s the most effective type, and you can keep it as ongoing contraception.
The emergency pill ulipristal acetate can be taken within 5 days (120 hours).
The emergency pill levonorgestrel can be taken within 3 days (72 hours).

Tell the pharmacist or nurse your weight and any medicines or contraception you’ve used recently. Levonorgestrel may need a double dose if you weigh over 70kg or have a BMI over 26, and ulipristal may work less well if you’ve taken hormonal contraception in the past 7 days.

You can get emergency contraception free from most sexual health clinics and GP surgeries. England has offered the emergency pill free in pharmacies since October 2025, and it’s free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland too.

When to take a pregnancy test

If you don’t know when your period is due, test at least 21 days after the sex you’re worried about.

Some early tests can be used from 5 days before your period is due (the packet may say ‘6 days before your missed period’), but they won’t pick up every pregnancy that early. Testing from the day your period is due is more reliable, though a negative can still be wrong if there isn’t enough hCG yet. If your period doesn’t come, test again a few days later.

If your test is negative but your period still hasn’t come, read can a negative test be wrong?

If you’re trying for a baby

If you’ve been using pulling out as contraception and now want to get pregnant, you can just stop. There’s no waiting time. Start taking 400 micrograms of folic acid every day.

STIs

Pulling out doesn’t protect against sexually transmitted infections. Using a condom every time you have sex is the best way to protect you and your partner from HIV and other STIs.

Questions people ask

Can you get pregnant from pre-cum?

Yes, it’s possible. Some men’s pre-cum contains sperm that can swim, though the chance is lower than with ejaculation.

What are the chances of getting pregnant from pulling out once?

There’s no reliable figure for a single time. The yearly figures above show that it often fails over time, so if you’re worried, emergency contraception is the safest option.

Can you get pregnant if he pulls out and you’re on your period?

It’s less likely, but possible, especially if you have a short cycle or ovulate early, because sperm can survive for up to 7 days.

Is pulling out better than nothing?

Yes, it lowers the chance of pregnancy compared with using no contraception, but far less than condoms or other methods. About 1 in 5 couples relying on it get pregnant within a year.