This study integrates research on the prevalence of contraceptive methods, including withdrawal, and research on how hook-up culture impacts contraceptive use to examine college women's use of withdrawal with sexual partners. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 57 young women at a midwestern U.S. university, we analyzed women's explanations for using withdrawal for pregnancy prevention and framed our study within the research on gender norms, sexual scripts, and power dynamics. Findings show that withdrawal is normalized within collegiate hook-up culture, with most women assuming without discussion that both casual and committed partners will pull out. Across relationship types, participants typically reported using withdrawal as a backup contraceptive method to pills or condoms or a stop-gap method when switching between more effective contraceptive methods. Women also relied on emergency contraceptives if using only withdrawal. With casual partners, women often advocated for themselves in sexual encounters; however, in committed relationships women tended to acquiesce to the use of withdrawal to maintain their relationship and because their partner desired condomless sex. At the same time, withdrawal in committed relationships was tied to trust and demonstrating love for one's partner. Our study shows that college women frequently relied on withdrawal to avoid pregnancy, even though they acknowledged it was not the most effective or desired method. These findings underscore the disjoint between the contraceptive methods women report using versus those they would prefer to use, emphasizing the need for enhanced contraception education and promotion efforts for both women and men.