Occasionally vasectomy fails to achieve sterility and the operation may need to be redone. One urologist explains that "failures can occur because the cut ends of the vas deferens spontaneously rejoin or recanalise while healing, so that fertility isn’t halted. The likelihood of recanalization depends partly on the surgical technique and is least likely after occlusion (coagulation), although this method is also least likely to offer the chance of later reversal. Rarely, vasectomy fails because there is an extra vas that hasn’t been cut." Failure rates among well-practiced surgeons average 2 to 4 per thousand vasectomies, higher with inexperienced operators. In one British study, vasectomies performed by 19 highly experienced surgeons – who had performed more than 1,000 vasectomies – failed at a rate of 0. 14 per cent to 0.41 per cent, compared to less experienced surgeons, who had performed fewer than 200 vasectomies, failing 1.40 per cent of the time.

Pregnancies occur in the partners of vasectomized men at an average rate of one in 400 – usually because of unprotected intercourse too soon after the operation. Sperm may linger for weeks in the "nozzle" end of the vas deferens and lead to pregnancy from unprotected sex during the immediate post-surgical weeks. Rarely, even years later, one of the severed tubes spontaneously re-connects and pregnancy occurs. For example, in one case in England, a woman whose husband was vasectomized five years earlier stopped having periods. Thinking the halted periods were due to early menopause, by the time she realized she was pregnant she was already into the fifth month of gestation. Late failures are extremely rare, occurring in about 0.1 per cent of cases. However, pregnancy as a cause of missed periods in the partner of a vasectomized man must not be entirely ruled out.

Any possible long-term health effects?

While vasectomy is highly effective, safe and reliable, no surgical procedure is entirely risk-free and there remains slight uncertainty about its long-term health effects. Unsettling reports have surfaced suggesting that, over the long haul, vasectomy might contribute to atherosclerosis, heart disease and, most recently, prostate cancer. After thorough investigation, earlier concerns that vasectomy might contribute to atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases are now considered unfounded. Research at Oxford University and at Harvard Medical School found that coronary artery disease was in fact slightly below average in vasectomized men. Similarly, suggestions that vasectomy might be related to testicular cancer have been overturned. The formation of anti-sperm antibodies after the surgery has so far shown no ill effects.

The remaining concern is a possible link between vasectomy and prostate cancer. Some studies find a correlation, most do not. One 1993 Harvard study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association reported a slight increase in prostate cancer among vasectomized men. Experts who have examined these and other studies conclude that, although it is possible that vasectomy contributes to prostate cancer, the relationship may arise from bias in the studies. For example, vasectomized men tend to visit urologists more frequently for check-ups and are therefore more likely to have prostate cancer detected early than non-vasectomized men who consult urologists less often. It will be many years before the issue is entirely settled. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization and other authorities maintain that there is no cause for concern, and no reason why vasectomized men should worry about prostate cancer any more than non-sterilized males.

Vasectomy reversal – tricky, but sometimes works

Occasionally, owing to unanticipated circumstances – such as divorce, remarriage, the death of a child or other changes – men wish to have their vasectomy reversed. As vasectomy is increasingly popular, so too are demands for reversal. However, vasectomy reversal or vavovasectomy is major surgery – a complicated, difficult microsurgical procedure requiring experience and expertise. It means rejoining the severed ends of the vas so that sperm once more travel through them. Even if well done, return of fertility is not guaranteed. For example, sperm antibodies may kill or damage sperm and prevent conception, even if sperm again enter the vas.) Success depends on the surgeon’s skill and the original vasectomy technique. Success rates for reversal average 50 per cent in skilled hands. After vasectomy reversal, sperm counts take a long time to reach normal. Men can wait up to five years to become fertile. The operation may need to be performed several times.

The best candidates for vasectomy reversal are men who had the operation relatively recently. It is rarely successful 10 years or more after vasectomy. In one 1991 U.S. study, the more recent the vasectomy the better the chances of reversal. Those with three years between vasectomy and reversal had a 76 per cent success rate; with 3-14 years from vasectomy to reversal, 44 per cent were successfully returned to fertility; and 15 or more years after vasectomy only 30 per cent of those reversed produced a pregnancy.

Comparing tubal ligation and vasectomy

For a couple who opts for sterilization as their method of birth control, the best way to put vasectomy into perspective is to compare it with tubal ligation in women.

Morbidity (illness): Vasectomy, which is done under local anesthetic, is easier and cheaper to perform, and has fewer complications than tubal ligation, which is done under general anesthesia. Tubal ligation is more painful, carries greater risks of infection and other complications, and requires a longer convalescence.

Mortality: While both vasectomy and tubal ligation are considered safe, vasectomy is definitely safer for a man than tubal ligation is for a woman. Deaths due to the general anesthetic given for tubal ligation are 4 per 100,000; for men undergoing vasectomy, deaths average less than 0.1 per 100,00.) In the U.S., there are about 14 deaths per year from tubal ligation – mostly blamed on the anesthesia – virtually zero attributed to vasectomy. (Deaths in childbirth average 7.9 per 100,000.)

Effectiveness: Both tubal ligation and vasectomy are 99.8 per cent effective. Suspected vasectomy failures can be detected by a semen analysis for sperm, but there is no similar method to check the success of tubal ligation. A failed tubal ligation, while rare, can result in a life-endangering ectopic pregnancy.

take a pregnancy test…go to http://www.peeonastick.com

A blood test will show you are pregnant 6 days after conception.
good luck

Is it a boy or a girl? Or is it too early to ask?

Just to make sure I understand. If you say you are two weeks late that leds me to believe you are the woman and your man had the vasectony correct>?
Thirdly, a failed vasectomy working after 18 years, that means that for 18 years it did not work therefore you could have gotten pregnant before, if is working now that means 0 chance to get pregnant, man I am confused

Here are my two cents

a) Check with your OB/GYN
b) If you are indeed pregnant, you better find a good way to tell him

Good Luck

Umm, read the question folks. Failed vasectomy REVERSAL. Stranger things have happened. Sounds like congratulations may be in order.