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.