afraid of post vasectomy baby.......!?!

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-26-2004
afraid of post vasectomy baby.......!?!
4
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 10:54am
My husband had a vasectomy 3 1/2 years ago. At the time we had just had our third child and they were all under 3! Our third was a huge suprise as I had an IUD in place at the time. That pregnancy was very hard and I was hospitalized several times. My DH was sure that this should be our final child, so he had the vasectomy. He had some complications(hematoma and infection) and his sample after 3 months still had swimmers. He has not "found the time " to go back for another sample. I had not pushed this because at the time I would not have been to upset to have another child. But now that my youngest is 3 1/2 I feel out of the baby stage! Obviously dh has to go in for the sperm count but this weekend we met a couple and their fourth child....their post vasectomy surprise. This man had two samples that came back sperm free. Sorry for the long explanation but here is my questions... are post vasectomy babies very common and is my husband at a higher risk of an unsucessful vasectomy because of his complications? Thank you so much.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 11:55am
Hi bograr, welcome!

With a vasectomy being 99.5% effective a pregnancy isn’t at all common but as you have already pointed out they do occur. Here’s what Planned Parenthood has to say about a Vasectomy: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/bc/cchoices1.html#STERILIZATION

It is a really good idea to have him tested to see where you stand. Let us know what his results are, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 11:58am
I don't have any info on the vasectomy, but I just wanted you to know that you're not the only one who worries about that! I often wonder how reliable vasectomies are. Have you considered getting your tubes tied? That way you and your husband are sure not to have anymore children. Wow, the fact that you got pregnant w/ an IUD surprises (and scares) me!
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 12:45pm
Tubals are no more effective than vasectomies, there are tubal babies too! There is no 100% effective method of contraception that allows you to still have sex, I'm afraid...at least not yet.
Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Tue, 08-10-2004 - 1:11pm
My husband had a vasectomy in February and was negative for sperm in May and again in June. He had the traditional vasectomy where the vas defrens were cut and sections removes so it would be a long stretch for them to grow back, cauterized and tied. There is also a method where they put clips on the vas defrens. The dr said it was very rare for a pregancy to occur; I forget what he said the odds were, but they werent very good. And most vasectomy pregnancies occur in the first 12 weeks(the chances of the vas defrens recanalizing are greater then, plus not all the sperm that were in the vas defrens before the vasectomy may be gone). A friend of ours who is a dr joked that if I were to become pregnant my husband should be concerned about what Ive been doing! Anyway, I feel that if an accidental pregnancy would occur it would be God's will.

Right now, at 39(my husband is 41) we are having the best sex of our lives. No pregnancies worries (or the stress you can feel while trying to conceive!). If I were you I would get another sperm and test then if recommended, another in a month(though after 3 1/2 years that might not be required). If all is fine, they just try and enjoy one another! Let us know how things go!

Best wishes!

Josie