Conclusion: This case shows that late recanalization can occur up to seven years after a vasectomy. Patients should be informed prior to the procedure that late recanalization, although rare, may still occur.
If people have sex without contraception too soon after a vasectomy, there is a risk that some sperm may remain in the semen. If so, this sperm could fertilize an egg, leading to pregnancy.
When someone with a vasectomy ejaculates, the fluid contains semen, but no sperm. Vasectomy is one of the most effective birth control methods available. But there's still a very small chance that the procedure won't work, which could result in pregnancy.
One of the most significant pros of a vasectomy is that a vasectomy is a very effective and permanent form of birth control. Only one to two in 1,000 men have a vasectomy that fails. This usually happens in the first year following the procedure.
Can a vasectomy reverse itself? No. Once a man has a proven negative semen analysis, the vasectomy is permanent unless surgically reversed. It is not possible for the vas deferens to re-align or reverse itself.
Testing is the Key to Preventing Pregnancy after Vasectomy
The usual recommendation is to perform two (2) tests within 2-4 months following the procedure, and then once a year thereafter. The results of both tests should be negative.
However, in some cases, the vas deferens grow back several years after the procedure. The growth may continue until a connection is recreated, allowing the free flow of sperm to the urethra. An extremely rare and successful reconnection can occur after 10 to 14 years or more and is usually almost impossible to notice.
Vasectomies are almost 100% effective at preventing pregnancy — but not right away. It takes about 3 months for your semen to become sperm-free. A few months after your vasectomy, your doctor will do a simple test called a semen analysis to check for sperm in your semen.
A vasectomy is over 99.99% effective in preventing pregnancies. Like tubal ligation in people assigned female at birth (AFAB), a vasectomy is a one-time procedure that provides permanent contraception.
Vasectomy failure can be due to technical error during the procedure, early recanalization, late recanalization, or patients' failing to use alternative contraceptive methods immediately after the procedure when sperm could still be present in the ejaculate [4].
Your Vas Deferens Reconnect
Even with a successful surgery and you following the proper post-vasectomy plan, your vas deferens can reconnect months or years later. In some cases, this has happened 10 years after a vasectomy!
The average person getting a vasectomy was also found to have one to three children. Research in the American Journal of Men's Health found that the average age for a vasectomy was about 35, with the typical age range for the procedure between the ages of 30 and 56.
Men who have a vasectomy still ejaculate the same way in the same amounts – the only difference is that there is no sperm in the semen. The size, shape of look of the penis, testicles and scrotum is unchanged.
A small number of men who get vasectomies develop chronic pain in their testicles after the procedure. Your healthcare provider may diagnose post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) if the pain lasts for three months or longer. The pain may develop immediately after the procedure or months to years later.
To ensure your vasectomy is a success, you must return to the vasectomy clinic three months after the procedure for a semen analysis, which will reveal whether there are any active sperm still present in your ejaculate. A successful vasectomy will result in zero active sperm.
Once you have been cleared, it's extremely rare for the procedure to fail or reverse naturally. In fact, the risk of failure is less than 1 in 2,000 (less than . 05%) while other contraceptives like the pill and patch have a 0.2% failure rate. Surgery is typically the only way to undo a vasectomy.
In general, you should wait until you don't feel any pain or swelling around the surgery site before having sex. This may mean waiting a week or more after your procedure. Having sex immediately after the surgery could reopen the incisions and allow bacteria to enter the wound. This could potentially lead to infection.
The procedure itself is quick, taking about 30 minutes or less. Full recovery time is about eight to nine days for many people. Keep in mind this may vary depending on your individual perception of pain and ability for tissue healing. It will take longer until you can ejaculate without sperm in your semen.
Can my partner tell if I have had a vasectomy? Sperm adds very little to the semen volume, so you shouldn't notice any change in your ejaculate after vasectomy. Your partner may sometimes be able to feel the vasectomy site. This is particularly true if you have developed a granuloma.
A vasectomy is considered a permanent form of birth control to make a man unable to father a child. It is a surgical procedure in which the tube that carries the sperm from the testes to the urethra is cut or sealed off to prevent sperm from being released during ejaculation.
Once they are cut, sperm can't get into the semen or out of the body. The testes still make sperm, but the sperm die and are absorbed by the body. A man who has had a vasectomy still makes semen and is able to ejaculate. But the semen doesn't contain sperm.
continued heat-seal each end with an electric tool, and clamp them with two small titanium clips. The clips stay in place, but usually can't be felt and won't set off airport metal detec- tors.
Is Getting Pregnant After a Vasectomy Possible? A vasectomy is one of the best ways to prevent pregnancy, with rates of pregnancy around 1/1,000 after the first year, and between 2-10/1,000 after five years. Most reports indicate that following a vasectomy a couple has a less than 1% chance of getting pregnant.
Early failure or recanalization of the vas deferens after vasectomy occurs in approximately 0.3% to 0.6% of cases. 5 This failure occurs when a substantial number of spermatozoa or any motile spermatozoa are identified at least 4 months after vasectomy.