HOME HELP CONTACT US SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Christensen, R. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Christensen, R. E.

Author’s Reply

Independence Park Medical Associates
Anchorage, AK

To the Editor: Dr Ramakrishnan has raised some very good points. There is no absolute protocol for the number or timing of postvasectomy semen analyses. He suggests that a single 3-month postvasectomy semen analysis would probably suffice, which seems reasonable. My research, however, indicates that less than half the men returned at 3 months (25%) than returned for the 6-week check (58%). Because a semen analysis is the only way to know that one has achieved azoospermia—and that is the purpose of the vasectomy—then this noninvasive sampling is logical.

Our study followed Denniston and Pfenninger,¹ which suggested customary postoperative care, with the exception that we also encouraged a 12-month postoperative semen check, in which only 8% of men participated. I also agree that because 42% of my patients did not return for ANY postvasectomy semen analysis, there are a significant number of risk-takers getting a vasectomy. It has been our practice not to routinely send specimens of excised vas deferens to pathology, because it just incurs more cost and does not determine the success of the vasectomy.

References

1. Denniston GC, Pfenninger JL. Vasectomy. In: Proceedures for primary care physicians (Pfenninger JL, Fowler GC, editors). St. Louis: Mosby; 1994. p. 520–40.

This Article Full Text (PDF) Rapid Responses: Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when Rapid Responses are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Christensen, R. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Christensen, R. E.