Non-penetrative sex
Non-penetrative sex means doing things like kissing, mutual masturbation, stroking or rubbing
How it works: Sperm does not
enter the vagina
Effectiveness: 100 per cent
Things to consider:
• free
• there are still some STIs such as herpes and genital warts that can be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact.
• may not be easy to maintain long term.
Abstinence (not having sex)
Abstinence means different things to different people. Broadly speaking it is when someone chooses not to have penis in vagina sex.
How it works: Sperm does not
enter the vagina
Effectiveness: 100 per cent
Things to consider:
• free
• can increase creativity and variety in
ways to give and receive sexual pleasure
• requires cooperation of partner/s
• may not be easy to maintain long term.
Withdrawal (pulling out)
Withdrawing the penis from the vagina
before ejaculation.
How it works: Ejaculation is not expelled in the vagina so there is less chance of pregnancy
Effectiveness: 80 to 95 per cent
Things to consider:
• free and always available
• less effective than other methods,
especially for young people
• can be difficult to pull out in time
• pre-cum may contain sperm
Fertility awareness methods
A person learns to identify when they are fertile and avoid sex during that time.
How it works: There is only a small window where someone is fertile, avoiding sex during this time reduces the chance of pregnancy
Effectiveness: 76 to 95 per cent
Things to consider:
• can use it with other methods to increase effectiveness
• less effective than other methods
• can be difficult to track your fertile times if you have an irregular cycle
• requires cooperation of partner/s
