PURPOSE: The objective of this study was twofold.
Firstly, to calculate compliance rate, and secondly, to determine which 'population' of men is more/less likely to follow-up with semen analysis based on demographic information and complication rates.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study retrospectively reviewed 946 consecutive ambulatory clinic vasectomies performed by one urologist at a single institution. Standard follow-up consisted of a telephone call or a pre-booked appointment made for 2 months post-vasectomy and for 2 semen analyses at 4 months post-vasectomy.
RESULTS: The average age in the study was 33.6 (5.4). Of the 946 patients in the study 47.9% did not submit a negative semen sample, 15.7% submitted one negative sample and 36.4 % submitted the required 2 negative samples for confirmation of a successful vasectomy according to the sampling protocol. The mean time to semen analysis was 4.53 (2.14) months. Complications included: infection = 1.9%, hematoma = 1%, and spermatogranuloma = 0.5%. It was noted that men 34 years of age or younger, men with 3 or more children and men without complications were more likely to be non-compliant with semen analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: The number of men providing samples for semen analysis in this study is very low, regardless of being given both written and verbal reminders. However, the poor patient compliance is similar to that of previous studies. Interestingly, this study identified a subset of patients with poor compliance rates. This finding may allow urologists to target their pre-procedure counseling more appropriately.
Written by:
Duplisea J, Whelan T. Are you the author?
PGY-1 Urology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada.
Reference: J Urol. 2013 Jan 25. pii: S0022-5347(13)00098-0.
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.01.062
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 23357212
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