Patient noncompliance after vasectomy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the postoperative instruction compliance rate in men undergoing bilateral vasectomy.

DESIGN

Retrospective chart review.

SETTING

Private practice urological office.

PATIENT(S): The records of all patients undergoing vasectomy were reviewed to determine the rate of compliance with postvasectomy follow-up instructions. It is our policy to have the patient continue to use some form of birth control until he achieves two consecutive negative semen analyses 1 month apart. In addition, we recommend a yearly semen analysis after achieving sterility to screen for the rare patient who recanalizes. Postvasectomy follow-up instructions are given to the patient both verbally and in writing.

INTERVENTION(S): None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The records of 1,892 consecutive patients undergoing vasectomy were reviewed, and the results of semen analyses were noted to determine the rate of compliance with postvasectomy follow-up instructions.

RESULT(S): Six hundred forty-four men (34%) never returned after vasectomy and, therefore, no semen analyses were available for examination. Six hundred nineteen men (33%) returned for a single semen analysis. Six hundred twenty-nine men (33%) returned for a second negative semen analysis. Only 60 men (3%) completed postvasectomy follow-up instructions and returned for a yearly semen analysis.

CONCLUSION(S): The rate of compliance with postvasectomy follow-up instructions for determining sterility is poor.