Should I do a semen test after my vasectomy?
Yes, almost all physicians who do vasectomies would recommend at least one semen test after a vasectomy. This is called a “post-vasectomy semen analysis.” The guidelines from the both the American Urological Association and the Canadian Urological Association recommend doing a follow-up semen test to be sure, and Dr. Curington follows these recommendations also. It’s good to keep using contraception after the vasectomy and to continue until your semen test confirms that you are in the clear.
When should I do a post-vasectomy semen test?
The best time to do a post-vasectomy semen test is 12 weeks after the vasectomy. By that time, just over 90% of men will have azoospermia (“no sperm”) in their semen. It takes surprisingly long to clear the sperm from the walls of the vas tubes and from the seminal vesicles. If you do your test earlier than 12 weeks, you will have a higher chance of needing to repeat the testing.
How do I order my post-vasectomy semen test?
What are the usual results of the post-vasectomy semen test?
There are three typical results – copious sperm, rare sperm, “no sperm seen.”