Pregnant after husbands vasectomy?How common?

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Long-term care, wound care.

Hi everybody. I will try to keep this as short as possible. My husband and I have 2 boys- 4 years and 8 months old. With our 8 month old I had some major problems PTL, shortening cervix etc. and then had a terrible labor and delivery.:eek: Way harder than my first boy.

Anyway, that was it for us, my husband and I decided no more children EVER AGAIN! :redlight: So, I went on the pill right after our last baby was born back in August and my husband decided to get a vasectomy. So, the vas was done Dec. 17th. I told the urologist I was going to stay on the pill and he told me that was not necessary. I also told him that I heard that there could be viable sperm for up to another 4 months afterward. He told me that was an old wives tale and not to worry. So, I igored that inner voice that told me to stay on my pill and just let them run out. I took my last active pill Jan. 1st.

So, here we are now in April and I have yet to have a period. (Well,I should mention that I did take an HPT on Jan. 11th just out of being paranoid and it was negative. Then, about a week later I had some spotting.) So, this past Fri. I took an HPT and it was positive. We were in total shock so I took another one yesterday and got the same result, positive. I am calling my Dr. first thing in the morning.

Does it sound like the urologist messed up by not telling us more? If I had any idea that this could happen I would've stayed on the pill. This is going to basically ruin our lives. I hate to phrase it that way but that's how we feel.We did everything he told us to and were responsible and this still happened to us. We had really big dreams planned. I am so depressed and shocked right now I don't know what to do. I just cannot go through this again. Has this ever happened to anyone else? Is it common? Thanks for listening. Sorry so long. -Amy

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Specializes in Neuro/Med-Surg/Oncology.

Did your dh have to follow-up with semen samples to be tested? It took a few of our friends months to get the green light. Sometimes it takes awhile depending on how "active" you are after the surgery to be in the clear, so to speak. If your dh didn't have to do this then it sounds to me like your urologist is not worth his salt.

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Specializes in SICU, ER, MEDICAL.

Amy,

I am so sorry this is happening to you and your husband right now :( My husband is scheduled to get his Vas done on April 15 & I am happy I ran across your post. We also have two children and feel it is all that we can handle. You and your family will be in my prayers. I hope all goes well for you.

KH

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
Did your dh have to follow-up with semen samples to be tested? It took a few of our friends months to get the green light. Sometimes it takes awhile depending on how "active" you are after the surgery to be in the clear, so to speak. If your dh didn't have to do this then it sounds to me like your urologist is not worth his salt.

I'm sorry for your situation. I believe that NurseyBaby is right. Unless there is some new procedure that I'm not aware of, I believe it is necessary to have multiple semen samples analyzed to insure that all of the sperm cells have "cleared the plumbing" so to speak. I personally know of one patient and one friend who became pregnant following their husbands' vasectomies, so it may be rare, but not unheard of. Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Community Health Nurse.

Not rare at all if you don't wait long enough and have the follow up sperm testing to see if all the active critters are gone.

I have a cousin who had a vasectomy after he and his wife had two children. The doctor told them to wait a certain time frame before having sex to prevent another pregnancy. My cousin's wife got pregnant again within the first year of the vasectomy. He denied the baby was his since he had a vasectomy months prior to her getting pregnant a third time. He made it rough for her the entire pregnancy thinking she had an affair. As soon as the baby boy was born, the family knew my cousin couldn't deny that baby if he tried because it was a carbon copy of my cousin, and is to this day. So, it does happen.

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Specializes in Long-term care, wound care.
Did your dh have to follow-up with semen samples to be tested? It took a few of our friends months to get the green light. Sometimes it takes awhile depending on how "active" you are after the surgery to be in the clear, so to speak. If your dh didn't have to do this then it sounds to me like your urologist is not worth his salt.

Yes, he gave a semen sample around a week later and the urologist called a few days after that and even though I am a nurse, I didn't quite understand what he was telling me but all I understood was "So,You're good to go!" Exact words. To me, that was all I needed to hear.No "well, maybe you should stay on the pill, or use extra precaution, or there may be some active sperm". Nothing! We didn't have sex for about 2 weeks after the procedure and even after that we used condoms and excuse my slang but pulled out as well and I was still covered by my pills. We weren't taking any chances! All that and look where it got us! It just makes me mad to think that he had such little disregard for our lives. I thought you needed more than one follow up sperm count as well? Anyone know if that's true?

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I worked w/ an MD who had a vasectomy after baby # 6. He now has Eight.

After my former fiance' (sp?) had his vasectomy, we continued to use condoms until we broke up. I've heard too many stories about babies showing up after vasectomies.

To the OP- I'm sorry this happened. I hope everything will work out ok.

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Well, I'm not a nurse yet, but we did just cover this in Repro not long ago. We were taught that the man should see the urologist and provide sperm samples until there is *no* sperm left. I don't see how your hubby could've been "sperm-free" after only 1 week. We were instructed to teach our patients that back-up BC is neccessary until that time, which usually takes approx. 2 months (if I remember correctly). If I were in your situation, I would call the urologist tomorrow and find out exactly what the sperm count was when that 1-week sample was taken.

I'm sorry that this happened to you. I hope that your lives can go on pretty much as planned, and this baby ends up being a blessing on your family. :kiss

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After my husband's vasectomy he had to give 2 samples that showed no sperm. And was told it would take about 2-3 months, depending on how active he/we were (about 20 times). A week after seems very suspicious!

I will be thinking of you & your family. Good luck...

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Specializes in forensic psych, corrections.

I don't know statistically how common it is, but a year or so after I was born, my dad was snipped. My mom then got pregnant... with twins.

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This is going to basically ruin our lives. I hate to phrase it that way but that's how we feel.We did everything he told us to and were responsible and this still happened to us. We had really big dreams planned. I am so depressed and shocked right now I don't know what to do. I just cannot go through this again.

Amy, I'm sorry this has happened. I don't have any input as to how common this is after V.

I never really planned any of my kids. Some I was just plain careless and got pg. With my 4th, I was really trying not to get pg. After 3rd, I felt like that would do us for a while at least. So, about 9 months after birth of 3rd, found out I was pg. I was beside myself. Informed OB's nurse that I could not push another baby out!

But, of course, I did. And when that baby came we couldn't imagine life without that one.

Give this unexpected family change a chance. I hope that in a year or two and for the rest of your life, you look back on your current feelings and say "I can't believe I thought getting pg with 'Zac' or 'Sarah' (or whatever lovely name you choose for this baby) would ruin my life".

Change yes, but you will be OK.

Can I ask what big dreams another baby will ruin? Usually once you already have children, you can slip another one in there without too much change.

I don't know what you are facing physically. I was blessed with relatively easy pregnancies and deliveries. I truly hope that this pg is easier than your last one. I'm sorry you had so much trouble.

Please try to make the best of this, and try to enjoy this special time of growth and birth, as this will probably be the last time you feel that little life growing in you. I miss that.

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Specializes in new mother/baby nurse.

Gosh, i'm sorry you are going through this. My husband had a vastectomy about 6 weeks ago. He has an appointment this week with his urologist. He said it takes 20-30 ejaculations and that my husband has to give 2 sperm free samples before we are given the green light.

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