It is true that there are many occasions where vasectomy failure has been reported, i.e. pregnancy inspite of the vasectomy surgery. However, in 99.9% of these cases the trouble was ignorance, rather than vasectomy failure. The actual rate of vasectomy failure is so low that doctors usually consider the method foolproof.

Some of the Reasons for a Vasectomy Failure

People do not usually allow the time for the sperm to be expelled totally from the reproductive ducts, which takes almost eight weeks. During this time the couple is advised to use some other methods to prevent pregnancy. Those who think that they are safe from day one after the vasectomy are the most likely candidates to experience vasectomy failure.

This is not actually due to vasectomy failure, but their lack of understanding of the whole procedure. Often the failure will actually lie with the doctor who performed the surgery without clearly defining the post-surgery care and precautions that needed to be taken, though the doctor is not always to blame, considering that some men may ignore the warnings.

Generally speaking, after the vasectomy, one needs close monitoring of sperm production for about eight to ten weeks. Only when the sperm has ceased to be found in the sample semen can it be verified as safe. This advice is followed by less than three percent of the people who undergo vasectomy. Are you then surprised that vasectomy failure is reported?

In very rare cases people have been found to spontaneously reconnect or regrow the duct. In this case the unsuspecting couple will experience unwanted pregnancy; after which the real cause for the vasectomy failure is found out.

It is also true that a very minor percent of vasectomy failure is due to surgery/ technical error. This however represents less than on percent of the total cases reported.

A Word of Advice

Since vasectomy is chosen mostly for its contraception value you should be very careful to follow the instructions of the physician closely.

* Ensure that there is periodic check up for residue sperm in the semen over about eight to ten weeks post surgery.

* Ensure you use another contraceptive measure till you are declared "safe."

* Ensure that you have follow-up semen check-up on yearly basis, to keep a tab of any further possibilities of failure.

Overall, be careful that you are not the cause for your own vasectomy failure due to negligence, ignorance, or both. A little care in the beginning will take you a long way in achieving your ultimate goal.