Post Vasectomy Potency of Remaining Sperm in System

After a vasectomy about 5 weeks ago, my wife and I desire to have one more child. Supposedly, sperm can be present downstream and in the system for some time after the vasectomy. If there are sperm left, would they be considered just as potent as if no vasectomy occurred or would these remaining sperm be more likey to become genetically defective and more at risk for disease, development issues, etc?

[Shayne Plosker, MD]

There will be few if any sperm left. It would be highly unlikely to get pregnant after a vasectomy. Your best options are a reversal of the vasectomy, or in vitro fertilization after obtaining sperm from testicular tissue with which to fertilize the eggs.