Abstract
Couple communication and sexual satisfaction among withdrawal users in Pakistan
Douthwaite,Megan; Miller,Peter C.; Sultana,Munawar; ul Haque,Minhaj
Reproductive Health Matters 6(12): 41-49
Publication date: 1998
Withdrawal is a popular method of family planning in Pakistan, associated with relatively high continuation and modest failure rates. In 1997, a small, qualitative study was conducted on the circumstances of withdrawal use among 25 married men and 24 married women (not in the same couple) who had ever used withdrawal, with two to three in-depth interviews per respondent. This paper presents findings on couple communication and unsolicited information on sexuality from the study. Withdrawal use was typically initiated by mutual agreement, with neither sex dominating the decision-making. Control over fertility without having to use a modern method (due to fear of side effects) was a primary aim of the women, and supported by their husbands. Information on sexuality was forthcoming from many of the men, though much less from the women. Men and women presented very different perspectives on achieving sexual satisfaction in the context of withdrawal use. While men freely discussed their own sexual satisfaction and that of their wives, and emphasized the importance of their wives' sexual satisfaction, women barely mentioned their own sexual needs. Slightly more mentioned their husbands'needs. Even so, the respondents in this study used withdrawal in a context ofpositive communication and mutual regard, which clearly arises from and enhances their satisfaction with the method.
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