Ever hear of a vasectomy not working?

[emer95]

My friend is 39, almost 40. She and her husband are happily married, and they have two kids, the youngest is 8. Her husband had the big SNIP shortly after the youngest was born, and she just found out she is PREGNANT! She's in absolute shock, and she definitely was not fooling around. She kept insisting the doctor was wrong, and that he must have mixed her up with someone else. She hadn't been feeling well and she actually thought she was going into early menopause. Nope!

She's slowly getting over the shock and starting to look at this as a blessing. She's very much a planner, and she said that it just goes to show that we're not in control of our lives as much as we think we are. Sometimes God has bigger plans. Her husband is being pretty funny about it. When the doctor told them the approximate conception date, he said, "I've gotta go check and see if I was in town that weekend!" He's also QUITE impressed with his studly-ness, and strutting his stuff a little bit.

My husband and I are thinking about taking that big step and ending our childbearing years. But this story has thrown us into a tailspin. I've never heard of this happening to anyone else. Have you?

 

[Ichabadi]

It happens but is uncommon. I wonder if her DH followed the advice to go back for a sperm count a few months after the vasectomy.

 

[Wankerville]

Yes, I've heard of this happening before. From my understanding, there is a little more involved than just the "snipping." I believe you have to get periodic check ups to be assured that the vasectomy is still working.

 

[Serena]

It can happen, the doc gave us several warnings about it.

 

[Katlyn]

It happens but is uncommon. I wonder if her DH followed the advice to go back for a sperm count a few months after the vasectomy.

That happened to friends of ours. They had a baby in January and the second in December of that year. The hubby didn't go back to be checked out. He didn't make that mistake again.

 

[DrCavin]

I think there was a thread about this recently, I was surprised how many had surprises

 

[laurie31]

We were also warned that we shouldn't consider ourselves "protected" until DH went back and had a zero sperm count.

I've also heard of this happening to people, but not if the husband had a confirmed count of zero.

However, we also figure that if God means for us to have another child, then we will...but we're hoping He isn't throwing us that particular curve ball! (although, like the OP's friend, I'm sure we would get used to the idea and see it as a blessing - I've never met anyone who regretted their "midlife surprise baby" - but we really don't want to find out...lol)

 

[luvmylittleboy2003]

My hubby's didn't work, and he had to go back (hospital out-patient this time) and have it redone.

 

[aprilvaca04]

Yup happened to friends of ours quite a while after he had his V done

 

[Nanu57v]

Yes, I heard the body can repair itself...I also have a friend who discovered she was pregnant 2 weeks after her husband got it done... (probably conceived before the procedure.)

 

[VirtuallyMe]

There are several methods the doctors use when doing vasectomies. Some just snip the vas deferens, some snip and tie the vas deferens, some snip and burn the vas deferens, and some snip, tie and burn the vas deferens.
The latter is the most effective and the former the least.

In the case of the story the original poster said- the vasectemy was done about 8 years ago. That was a lot of years of it being effective for it to simply be a case of not going for a clear sperm count- sounds like the body just repaired itself and presented the couple with a baby. Glad to hear the husband took it so well I know a few who wouldn't have taken it well at all.

 

[nannerbadnanner]

Yes. A friend of mine (age 42) just had baby 5 years after her husband's vasectomy. His reversed itself. Another friend also had a baby after her husband vasectomy, but he didn't do his follow-up so the situation is a bit different.

 

[kellydizfan]

My DH had his done 8 years ago. I don't think I could handle #4 and don't think I could afford it at this time either.

 

[GeorgeG]

It's been about 35 years for me. I don't know for sure, but I did have one case of a woman telling me she was pregnant by me years ago (I was between wives). I insisted it was impossible and never heard another word about it. It wasn't a pleasant conversation, but our relationship continued and there was no baby. After hearing the accounts of some not working I have some doubts about that instance, but it was one very isolated instance. I'm guessing that a vascectomy either works or it doesn't?

 

[sbpuckett]

So far it's worked for us but I've heard of this before. However, it seems to be more uncommon than for women who have their tubes tied. My aunt had her tubes tied after my cousin was born (he's slightly older than me) and seven years later my younger cousin was born. This seems to happen much more often, which is why DH chose to have his done instead.

 

[RitaE]

These stories scare me to death because my husband is one of those who did NOT go back to get it checked. It was "too embarrassing."

Seriously, the day I see two lines on a stick is the day I strangle him.

I'm pretty sure he had the snip tie and burn method. He told me he saw a little puff of smoke. The whole thing was quite dramatic. Poor baby.

 

[Disney Doll]

I have heard of them not working.

It's unusual if the vasectomy is over a year old, but not unheard of.

I would double-check the results of the pregnancy test too.

Man plans, God laughs.

 

[Micca]

I know a couple this happened to. They had TWO unplanned children because the husband didn't go in for his follow-up with the doc. They had two DS approaching high school age and the parents were looking forward to planning to enjoy their empty nest. Fortunately they are very good parents and are enjoying all of their kids.

 

[TaraPA]

OMG you gys are freaking me out! After years of begging, DH is going on MONDAY to get his vasectomy done. He will most definitely be going back for the follow-up! They told us you are not protected for at least 30 um, how shall I say this without TMI or getting censored - ejaculations - before going back for the sperm count test to see if he's in the clear. Our neighbor is actually doing the surgery (he's a urologist) while DH is having a double hernia operation - so if it fails I know right where to go!

 

[bigbabyblues]

Yep! Not us, thank goodness, but we have friends who this happened to.

Did he go back for the sperm count test? DH's urologist had him go until he was "clean" twice. DH wasn't pleased about it, but oh well!

I work with two ladies who both had another child years after their tubal too.