Since folks are already talking sperm counts and fertility on this lovely Saturday night, I would like to bring up a question about surgical sterilization. Namely, what causes sterilization to fail? I know the odds are against it, but it does happen.
And just what are the odds, in practical terms, of surgical sterilization failing to work?
The most often quoted stats I’ve read is <1% chance of a reversal.
The most common reason for “vasectomy failure” is the failure to wait until the doctor has confirmed your semen is sperm-free and gives you the all-clear. Obviously, this isn’t true vasectomy failure, but a failure of the patient to follow the doctor’s advice.
A true spontaneous vasectomy reversal is very rare, rarer than a spontaneous tubal ligation reversal. It entails the tissue of the vas deferens regenerating itself and rejoining, allowing the passage of sperm through the tube again. The same occurs with a spontaneous tubal ligation reversal, with the fallopian tubes regenerating and allowing the passage of sperm up or the egg down the fallopian tubes. Keep in mind there is a less than 1% chance of this occuring. This regeneration of tissue appears to occur more often the younger the patient, so the younger you are when sterilised, the more likely it will spontaneously reverse, however the figure is still quite low.
Vasectomy is considered one of the most effective contraceptives available today (the jury is still out on some of the newer forms of contraceptives that have been developed as we wait for long-term stats).