What About Pregnancy After A Vasectomy

Is it possible for the partner to get pregnant after a vasectomy ? Though it isn’t a common occurrence, pregnancy can happen after a man has a vasectomy. There can be several reasons for this happening. If you are thinking of having a vasectomy or have had one very recently (within the past 2 months) there are some facts you need to know to ensure that your partner doesn’t become pregnant after you have a vasectomy performed.

Why Pregnancy Possible After A Vasectomy

The usual reason for any pregnancy after a vasectomy is that the couple failed to use an alternate form of birth control until the doctor gives the all clear sign. Though a vasectomy is considered a permanent form of birth control, there are still live sperm that will be able to inseminate a woman and get her pregnant. Usually about two months after you have had a vasectomy, you will return to the doctor so that he can do a sperm count to ensure that there is no live sperm active. Once the doctor tells you that your sperm count is zero, then you can have sexual intercourse without any form of contraceptive. Even if your sperm count is 1, there is still a danger for your partner to become pregnant.

Other Reason for Pregnancy After A Vasectomy

Sometimes a vasectomy fails because the vas deferens has grown back together. This happens very rarely, but it can occur. It is thought that only one in every one thousand procedures that this happens. When it does happen, this is called recanalization. It is thought that the main reason why pregnancy occurs after a failed vasectomy is because there are tiny pieces of sperm debris along with scar tissue and white blood cells that enable the vas deferens to grow and the end result is that it reconnects to the area where the incision was made and it splits the vas deferens.

Statistics

Most studies show that women who do become pregnant, do so in the first three months of their husbands having a vasectomy. This is the result of not using alternative methods of birth control until he is declared at zero sperm count. As long as men keep their six week to two month check-up with the doctor, this doesn’t occur that often. The studies for women becoming pregnant after a year because the vasectomy failed are very, very low.

Worry and fear of pregnancy should not be a concern for the couple that diligently uses other types of contraception until the doctor tells them otherwise. If you do not, you will more than likely become pregnant in the first six weeks of your husband having his vasectomy performed. Having a vasectomy is one of the most effective and reliable methods of permanent birth control and shouldn’t be discounted because of other couples carelessness. The odds of your vasectomy failing are also very slim. If you are ever in doubt, you can always ask your doctor to do a yearly sperm count along with your regular prostate exam.