The Big Snip --- Is It Flawless?

Updated on August 09, 2012
A.S. asks from Albertville, MN
20 answers

Hi Ladies,
here is my question....is a vasectomy 100% fool proof once you have the A-ok from the Dr. office?

This is why I ask, my husband had a vas. done over a year ago and he brought the samples in and we were told there was "no need for protection" but I am 2 weeks late and a bit freaked out.

So, Ladies, if you have any experience with this please share your knowledge with me!! Thank you!!

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A.P.

answers from Cedar Rapids on

Sorry to confirm this...but no method of birth control (with the exception of abstinence) is 100% effective. A vasectomy is about as close as you can get, but it still has the ability in rare cases to reverse itself. The human body can do strange things. My little sister is living proof of a vasectomy that reversed itself...7 years after my dad had it done!!! To be safe, get a pregnancy test!

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T.B.

answers from Eau Claire on

I also know a few people who it failed on. One couple even went the extra step and she had her tubes tied too. They still got pregnant! According to the doc there is no way she should have been pregnant because neither of them had anything grow back, but she was.

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A.B.

answers from Fargo on

I believe they should have gone over this with you during the consult, but a vasectomy is supposed to be a more permanent form of birth control. The body can, however, "re-grow" the little tubes over time. I'd be surprised if they grew back that quickly, but it could be possible. Another thing to consider, has there been any major life changes for you/your family? Has it been a little stressful this last month or so? Just some other things to consider. Also, go get a pregnancy test to confirm whether or not you are pregnant. :)

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S.R.

answers from Appleton on

A.,

Not to scare you, but I know of two people that had a baby after the "big snip"... although one of those people didn't get his "little swimmers" checked.

I would get a pregnancy test to be sure.

Best Wishes..
~SR
"If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it"

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A.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

A.,
This is what I know. If you had a V and went in and they gave you the OK, he should be good it takes years to grow back. one a year he should be checked though.
Funny story after my husband had his I wouldn't have int. until he was check 6mos. I went in and was he positive and he had to clean out his pipes. The night that we would have done anything I was right on top of ovutaltion. I still track and am leary if I'm ov..ing.
I wish you the best, A.

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D.A.

answers from Appleton on

I have known women who have become pg after there husbands snip. Nothing is 100% fool proof.

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M.S.

answers from Minneapolis on

I'd like to say it is, but I know a mom who has gotten pregnant TWICE after her husband had it done. But, I'd like to think that God has a reason for them to have had those girls! Sorry to be so blunt, but if you're freaking out over being a few weeks late, have you taken a pee test? Have you looked into environmentals in your life that maybe stressing your system?

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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

No, it's not a guarantee. I have heard of many that have post vasectomy babies. And no Sue W. there was no need for a paternity test! That's insulting. No form of birth control is absolutely accurate.
My friend had a baby after cancer AND having her tubes tied! And her friend had a baby even though her hubby had a vasectomy and she had a tubal! The body is an amazing thing. Yikes!

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S.K.

answers from Minneapolis on

A.,

Our next door neighbor had a "surprise" post vasectomy and he was 6 years old when we met their family. It's unlikely, but not impossible you are pregnant. Even if you had used other protection; it's not fool proof either. I got pregnant TWICE while using a condom waiting for the birth control hormones to get out of my system so we could "try" to get pregnant. When I told my OB, he said, "I call people who use condoms...parents." He also said people come into the office pregnant all the time who used multiple forms of birth control simultaneously. I have a friend who got pregnant with an IUD in place and she only ovulates 2-3 times per year anyway. I can't even count how many people I know who conceived while on the pill. I wish sex ed gave more accurate information; they make it sound so certain you'll be fully protected. You may want to take a home pregnancy test.

Best wishes,
S.

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K.B.

answers from Minneapolis on

A.,

My husband had his done end of last year. We brought in the sample at 12wks and everything was fine. Now my husbands cousin has had it done 3 times and the vas. didn't work any of those times.

I would suggest getting a pregnancy test just in case. In July of last year I never got my period, not sure why, I just didn't get it. I did run out and buy pregnancy tests and thankfully they were all negative... To this day I don't know why I missed it, I figured it was my birthday gift to myself...lol

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K.B.

answers from Des Moines on

My nieghbor got preg. after her husband had been fixed for over 5 years. Take a test to ease your mind.

Best of Luck

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

It is almost 100% and that's why they do the test after. I hear that it is typical to do the test twice now, as even more assurance. No vasectomy done in the last several years, by a competent doctor, can "grow back". The tubes are absolutely destroyed and the procedure cannot be reversed. (This wasn't true for vasectomies years ago that sometimes could be surgically reversed). If I was a man who "fathered" a child two years after a vasectomy, sorry, but I would demand a paternity test.

A.S.

answers from Davenport on

I have a handy brochure here as I'm trying to convince my husband to have a vasectomy so I don't have to have a tubal when I have my c-section after our second baby....it says they are 99.85% effective. So there is a small chance. Why don't you take a HPT and find out?

B.B.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Sorry to tell you this, but in very rare instances a vasectomy may not be foolproof. Take a pregnancy test.

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J.R.

answers from Janesville-Beloit on

Don't get too worried-
It is very rare that you would become pregnant after your husband has had a vasectomy! (After my husband had his, I was scared to death for a while as well.) If it has been a year it is probably even less likely that it would occur. If I was concerned enough I would not hesitate to get a pregnancy test. It is not worth the worrying, when you can find out for sure for $8!
Everything will be O.K....Goodluck!

J.

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M.H.

answers from Rapid City on

The only 100% birth control is abstinence. A vasectomy should be pretty darned close to 100% though, depending on the procedure that was used. My husband had the "no scalpel" procedure (puncture, clamp, cut and cauterize) and the Dr. said that in over 700 procedures, he'd never had to re-do one. I have heard that it is a really good idea to go in after a year or 2 and have another sample tested, just to be sure. FWIW, my BIL is the result of a failed vasectomy, but that was 40 years ago.

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J.J.

answers from Omaha on

NO, it's not 100%! I have two friends who have post-vasectomy babies. One of them it happened two years after the surgery and the other friend it happened a couple months after surgery.

Take a pregnancy test and then you'll know for sure.

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M.K.

answers from Sheboygan on

I know of several people in our area who got pregnant after this. I do not know if their "samples" were told the same thing. They were all the same MD (no longer practicing) and I"m not sure if itwas ever determined if it was his technique or faulty "clips" (or whatever they use).....buy a test, find out.

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J.M.

answers from Sheboygan on

No, it is not flawless. My DD's aunt got pregnant 2 years after her husband's vasectomy - his tubes had healed back together. This is rare, but can happen. My suggestion is to take a pregnancy test - if positive, then you know what happened - if negative, then I suggest consulting your doctor, as there could be any number of reasons as to why you could be late.....stress, change in diet, exercise, or the dreaded "change of life", among others. Hopefully, if the test is positive, it doesn't open another can of worms in your household. Good luck!

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D.N.

answers from New York on

omg im 5 days late with my period. my husband had vascectomy 6 years ago. im petrified. felt like i had it when it was due but it never came. now hes accusing me of cheating if im pregnant and i never have. we have 6 children. is it possible this could happen/ please respond im freaking out should i go to dr?

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