2nd vasectomy - now what?

[runningeagle]

my husbands 1st vasectomy failed one year after his surgery.  We had 2 confirmed neg. sperm counts - 6 months after the procedure.  I became pregnant about a  year later.  His sample was confirmed to have sperm.  I gave birth to our third son.  My husband went back for a 2nd vasectomy.  It has been about 6 months.  How long should we wait to have unprotected sex?  1year?  2 years?  how many sperm checks?  
Love our boys, but do NOT want to have more!
thank you

[Jakej]

Same here. I underwent the operation 10/2013, was found all clear on semen test 3 months later and got my wife pregnant 6 months after vasectomy. Then immediately went to 2nd test to hear that they found vivid sperm, poor quality, however. Then 1 year after the operation took 3rd test that wad clear and got 2nd clearance for everything ok. Now on 2nd year anniversary of the op, I became curious and inspected the sperm at house with a microscope and quess what! Again vivid sperm... the surgeon is baffled.

so be careful out there!

[4sthecharm]

I had a vasectomy in 09.  6 weeks after the procedure I submitted my first sample which was cleared, ~3 weeks after that I submitted my second sample which was cleared, and ~3 weeks after that I submitted my third sample which was also cleared, and at that point I was told everything was good and no further protection was needed.  Then a couple months later my wife found out she was pregnant with our 4th child. I was told the vas recanilized and my doctor took a redo at no cost to me(other than the cost of 4 kids).  I'm on my last sample, but I'm not sure that I'll ever have that piece of mind to have unprotected sex again.  I love my kids dearly, but I do not want another one.

[DoctorEllis]

If he had two negative specimens after the first vasectomy, and then you got pregnant, his vas deferens must have recanalized (0.2% chance of this after vasectomy).

The risk is the same after the second vasectomy, 0.2% or about 1 in 500.

He should have three specimens a month apart. If they are all negative, the second vasectomy was successful and the risk of failure is 0.2%.

[runningeagle]

Thank you for the response but  it has allready been 6 months as I said above.  The sperm count lthe first  time was zero  TWICE!!! and I got pregnant.  is it possible for one persons surgery to fail TWICE?  could his body be different in some way?  

thank you

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

You can resume sexual intercourse as soon as comfortable, usually in about a week after the procedure. However, you can still get pregnant until the sperm count is zero. Another method of birth control must be used until a follow-up sperm count test 2 months after the vasectomy (or after 10 to 20 ejaculations over a shorter period of time). Once the sperm count is zero, no other birth control method is necessary.

Take care and regards.