Vasectomy & Pregnancy Questions?

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Don't know where to post this but since this is a family board and a family usually will consisit of kids then this may or may not fit in here. My DH went in for his vasectomy 5+ weeks ago. The doctor did the snip, carterize(sp?) AND titanium clamp. The dr then told him to come back in about 5 weeks for a check. Well DH did that last week and all counts were zero (actually "shootin' blanks" was the term the dr used). The doctor then said he was good to go and come back in a year just to make sure nothing reconnected. He then gave him a percentage of something like .12% will reconnect...not sure of the actual percent. I guess I should be relieved all is clear but I keep reading about how 2 tests need to be done. The doctor assured DH that the procedure now only needs 1 follow up if all counts are zero (plus the one in a year). But I am still a bit concerned since most seem to need 2 follow up analysis. If someone knows more on the topic, than I, can you help me ease my mind???

 

[Octoberbabiesrus]

2 is needed only if the first one came back with a count of anything other than 0.

 

[bigbabyblues]

I'm certainly not an expert, but my DH had his vasectomy about 2 years ago, and the doc was insistent he have two "clean" tests before we stopped using other bc.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Thanks for the replies. It was the dr that said only 1 neg was necessary. I even asked my gyno (although he doesn't do this procedure he needs to know about every form of birth control) even he said make sure he goes for that check up. I asked him if I can stop using BC after the test and he said as soon as it is zero. But, of course, I need to read up on everything and everything on the internet varies.

 

[Hannathy]

I'm not going to pretend to know the official answer BUT I will say if it will put your mind to ease why doesn't your DH just have another test done? If the insurance won't pay because the DR doesn't think it is needed I would just pay for it myself. Your peace of mind is worth more than what a very simple lab test could cost.

 

[3BoysRDisneyFreaks]

My DH had to do 2 samples even if the first was 0. I would have him call and ask if he can have the second one done. I can't remember the spacing for the samples given. Even if they say it isn't necessary, maybe for piece of mind? You could pay for it out of pocket if they still say he doesn't need a second one done. I bet that is way cheaper than the cost of a baby.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Dh was only required to have one test, 6 weeks after the snip. It came back 0 swimmers and he was sent on his way. He was never told to come in for another test after the first came back 0. That was 10 years ago and it must have worked since we haven't had any big surprises!

 

[Manda]

There is no way I'd trust it without two all clears. Everything I've heard and read says two and most insurances cover two post-surgery tests. If a doctor told me that, I'd wonder if they were just trying to pocket more from insurance by skipping the second test. I know we paid a flat fee for DH's surgery and it included the surgery plus follow-up labs.

 

[james'mommy]

DH got fixed 11 months ago. He went in for several tests and they all came back positive. The doc said a few months ago that he only needed to come back in 6 months. The doctor said there was little chance of us getting pregnant. Once he goes back in a couple of months if the count is still low they'll consider it a success.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

There is no way I'd trust it without two all clears. Everything I've heard and read says two and most insurances cover two post-surgery tests. If a doctor told me that, I'd wonder if they were just trying to pocket more from insurance by skipping the second test. I know we paid a flat fee for DH's surgery and it included the surgery plus follow-up labs.

Well our insurance put this procedure at a level C. This means that we pay OOP and the OOP goes toward the deductable. We pay for the consultation, procedure and the test as separate appts. There was not a 1 time cost for everything. So if the dr was trying to make extra $$, at least in our case, he would have has DH go in for 10 tests.

 

[wdwfan16]

DH got fixed 11 months ago. He went in for several tests and they all came back positive. The doc said a few months ago that he only needed to come back in 6 months. The doctor said there was little chance of us getting pregnant. Once he goes back in a couple of months if the count is still low they'll consider it a success.

Having swimmers is not a successful vasectomy.

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

DH got fixed 11 months ago. He went in for several tests and they all came back positive. The doc said a few months ago that he only needed to come back in 6 months. The doctor said there was little chance of us getting pregnant. Once he goes back in a couple of months if the count is still low they'll consider it a success.

I thought the count was supposed to be no not low. As in no swimmers not a few here and there? I am getting so confused. Anyway I did call DH's dr. Since DH signed a form that they can talk to me I was able to have them look up the file and discuss it. The nurse told me that they only will do a test at least 1 month after the procedure. If the result is zero them no follow ups are necessary. If the count is anything other than zero or if there is a question about the results then you are not given the all clear and are asked to come back. She looked on my DH's chart and there was no question that his results are zero. She said we could always come back but there wasn't a need other that for our own piece of mind.

 

[Stitch76]

Well girls, I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but sometimes things happen no matter what we do to try to prevent them.
Let me explain.
After DD #1 we decided to "be careful", and if another one came along, oh well, we would love it, and all would be fine.
After DD #2 we decided 2 was our limit, and that "being careful" wasn't enough. So DH went, and as he so pleasantly put it, "got snipped". He had a wonderful doctor who did all the routine stuff involved in this procedure. He had 2 (count them 2) tests, and all came back fine. We needed to "be careful" no more.
Fast forward 4 years, I have 2 lovely girls, DH landed the job of his dreams, I finally went back to college, and we had started building our dream home.
Then suddenly I started feeling sick, really sick. I couldn't keep anything down, I was weak, passing out, and felt like I was dying. Of course the worry wort I am, my first thoughts were "I have cancer, or some other disease.", "I'm going to die, how's DH gonna raise 2 girls by himself."
I was a complete and utter mess, I was scared to death. DH kept trying to get me to go to the doctor, but I was too afraid of what they might find. This went on for a month, finally DH told me if I didn't go to the doctor, he was going to literally carry me to the truck and make me go. Then he looked at me and said, "Honey you don't have to be scared, I know what's wrong with you. You're pregnant!"
I just looked at him like he was crazy. I said, "You know I can't be pregnant, YOU can't get me pregnant, I'm dying, besides I still had my period." He went to the store a few miles from here and came back with 3 pregnancy tests. I took the first one and that sucker lit up like a neon sign!!!!! I took the other 2 just in case. Of course they were the same.
Luckily DH is not the type of guy to jump to conclusions, if you know what I mean. He was happy, I was more than a little frazzled, but he was HAPPY!
DH went to the doctor, and 4 YEARS! after his operation, things had reattached and he was nearly as good as new, so to speak! He had to get the procedure redone.
I finally went to the doctor, and 7 months later delivered DS. It's been a wild ride with 3 kids(for those of you who have more, you are amazing!!! ), but I wouldn't take anything in the world for DS. The doctor told my husband that the odds were like 1 in a thousand, so we figure he's our miracle.
I had to have a C-section with him, so while my doctor was in there I had him to tie my tubes, just in case. (What's the odds of both me and DH reattaching?????)
So you see, even if your given the all clear, you may not ALWAYS be in the all clear!

 

[GOOFY4DONALD]

Well girls, I hate to burst everyone's bubble, but sometimes things happen no matter what we do to try to prevent them.
Let me explain.
After DD #1 we decided to "be careful", and if another one came along, oh well, we would love it, and all would be fine.
After DD #2 we decided 2 was our limit, and that "being careful" wasn't enough. So DH went, and as he so pleasantly put it, "got snipped". He had a wonderful doctor who did all the routine stuff involved in this procedure. He had 2 (count them 2) tests, and all came back fine. We needed to "be careful" no more.
Fast forward 4 years, I have 2 lovely girls, DH landed the job of his dreams, I finally went back to college, and we had started building our dream home.
Then suddenly I started feeling sick, really sick. I couldn't keep anything down, I was weak, passing out, and felt like I was dying. Of course the worry wort I am, my first thoughts were "I have cancer, or some other disease.", "I'm going to die, how's DH gonna raise 2 girls by himself."
I was a complete and utter mess, I was scared to death. DH kept trying to get me to go to the doctor, but I was too afraid of what they might find. This went on for a month, finally DH told me if I didn't go to the doctor, he was going to literally carry me to the truck and make me go. Then he looked at me and said, "Honey you don't have to be scared, I know what's wrong with you. You're pregnant!"
I just looked at him like he was crazy. I said, "You know I can't be pregnant, YOU can't get me pregnant, I'm dying, besides I still had my period." He went to the store a few miles from here and came back with 3 pregnancy tests. I took the first one and that sucker lit up like a neon sign!!!!! I took the other 2 just in case. Of course they were the same.
Luckily DH is not the type of guy to jump to conclusions, if you know what I mean. He was happy, I was more than a little frazzled, but he was HAPPY!
DH went to the doctor, and 4 YEARS! after his operation, things had reattached and he was nearly as good as new, so to speak! He had to get the procedure redone.
I finally went to the doctor, and 7 months later delivered DS. It's been a wild ride with 3 kids(for those of you who have more, you are amazing!!! ), but I wouldn't take anything in the world for DS. The doctor told my husband that the odds were like 1 in a thousand, so we figure he's our miracle.
I had to have a C-section with him, so while my doctor was in there I had him to tie my tubes, just in case. (What's the odds of both me and DH reattaching?????)
So you see, even if your given the all clear, you may not ALWAYS be in the all clear!

I just love your humor. I think your story is the reason Drs USED to cut or carterize or clip...now they do 2 or all 3. DH had all 3 done so if we end up with a baby in a few years then that baby REALLY wanted to be born.

 

[staley7580]

DEFINITELY have him go back in!! One of the women on my twin boards dh had a vasectomy, and she was on depo... Guess what. She is pregnant. With TWIN again! Thankfully they are very happy.

My dh goes in on Thursday... I swear... I am having him checked once a week.

 

[bumbershoot]

I had to have a C-section with him, so while my doctor was in there I had him to tie my tubes, just in case. (What's the odds of both me and DH reattaching?????)

First, I love your story, especially how your husband just knew. But I've read quite a bit that having it done while they are "in there" is the worst way to do it...your body is ramping up to heal itself b/c of the surgery and not being pregnant, etc etc, and so it can heal that part of the surgery easier as well. So...with your husband's history and the timing of yours...watch out!




I wonder if james'mommy is using "positive" as a layperson would, as in, "the test was good, no swimmers, that's positive"...rather than "positive" meaning there were swimmers?

 

[laceemouse]

Dh was only required to have one test, 6 weeks after the snip. It came back 0 swimmers and he was sent on his way. He was never told to come in for another test after the first came back 0. That was 10 years ago and it must have worked since we haven't had any big surprises!

Agreed! My dh only had to have one all clear test and that was it. It has been 4 years and he has never had to go back and we have been fine!
Also, we were told with the clips they use now the probability of things growing back together is basically zero.

 

[laceemouse]

I just love your humor. I think your story is the reason Drs USED to cut or carterize or clip...now they do 2 or all 3. DH had all 3 done so if we end up with a baby in a few years then that baby REALLY wanted to be born.

Yep, they didn't do the clips a few years ago, and maybe some doctors still don't, but ours does.

 

[princessfionasmom]

My DH had his done 6 years ago and he only had one test and was told since there were no swimmers not more tests needed. I have to say though, there have been many times when I have WISHED it would reverse itself and I would end up pregnant again but it has not happened. We even went thru a phase where we both thought we had made a mistake and looked into having it reconnected but the cost was astronomical and I have PCOS which makes it very hard for me to get pregnant anyway, so we didn't do it. I keep telling him he should get his count checked again just to see. The 2 kids we have are our little miracles as it is and they didn't come until after 8 years of no birth control (didn't think we needed it since I was told at 16 I'd never be able to get pregnant without fertility treatment).

 

[Colleen27]

DH only had one follow up (once he actually KEPT the appointment, but that's a long story with a perfect little redheaded princess at the end). Once the doctor saw a zero count, he said no further follow up was needed. I don't know if it was different for us because of the time that had passed? DH skipped his scheduled follow up because of work and didn't reschedule until a couple months later.