Vasectomies are the most effective forms of pregnancy prevention, but are they 100 percent fool-proof? The following article discusses vasectomy failure rates, and why an extremely small number of vasectomies don’t prevent pregnancy. NorCalVas offers safe and highly effective no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy procedures to the Elk Grove, Redding, Scotts Valley, and Sacramento communities.
No-scalpel vasectomy is a minimally invasive procedure that inhibits the transfer of sperm from the testicles to the urethra through the vas deferens and ultimately out of the penis during ejaculation. When sperm is unable to escape, it cannot fertilize an egg, and no pregnancy can occur.
Post-vasectomy, ejaculation is still possible, and the testicles still produce sperm, but the sperm never leaves the penis, and it eventually dissolves and is reabsorbed into the body. Vasectomies are highly effective pregnancy prevention solutions, but a partner can – on very rare occasions – still get pregnant. Here are a few reasons why vasectomies might fail.
Vasectomy and Pregnancy Risk
As mentioned before, there is a risk of pregnancy post-vasectomy, but that risk is extremely low. When the doctor’s orders are followed and sample screening indicates no sperm in the patient’s semen, the risk is very nearly zero. In order to mitigate potential pregnancy, the patient should continue to use external forms of birth control – like a condom – for approximately three months, and until the stored sperm has been flushed away. Engaging in sexual intercourse without some additional birth control before the sperm has been expelled from the patient’s body may lead to egg fertilization and pregnancy. Waiting until after the semen sample has been screened and cleared to stop using additional contraception is the most prudent course of action.
Why Pregnancy Can Occur Post-Vasectomy
- Didn’t wait for sterilization to occur. Vasectomies most often fail due to the patient not taking precautions during the first few months post-procedure. The sperm still lingers in the semen for approximately 12 weeks (the life cycle of sperm is roughly three months) or until 20 ejaculations. Failure to use additional contraception during this time can lead to pregnancy.
- The Vasa Deferentia were not fully sealed during the procedure. On occasion, the vas deferens weren’t fully blocked during the vasectomy procedure. However, the vast majority of such failures are detected during semen analysis. If the technique wasn’t originally successful, the doctor may redo the procedure but apply a different technique. Patients who have had previous surgery in the region are at higher risk of failure.
- Recanalization (vas deferens reconnecting). Under very rare circumstances, the vas deferens can reconnect post-procedure – an event called recanalization. This is when scar tissue within the vas deferens forms channels through which sperm can travel. This can occur years after a vasectomy has been performed, but it most often happens within the first three months after surgery.
Vasectomy Failure Rates
Vasectomy failure rates are significantly lower than with any other surgical sterilization procedure or even birth control method. Early failure rates are estimated at between 0.3 and 9 percent (within the first three months after the procedure), while late failure rates are between 0.04 and 0.08 percent.
NorCalVas founder, Dr. Chirag A. Patel MD, Ph.D., specializes in no-scalpel, no-needle vasectomy procedures. To schedule a consultation, please visit our contact page.