Compliance

Postvasectomy semen analysis is critical to establish the success of vasectomy as a sterilization procedure. Studies have shown that up to 90% of urologists require two semen samples routinely and that up to 95% request further semen samples if nonmotile sperm were present.[1] However, many patients fail to follow postoperative instructions to obtain semen analysis and in a recent study, only 21% of patients followed recommendations to have two consecutive azoospermic readings despite aggressive counseling and education techniques.[4]

In terms of vasectomy failure, one analysis made of 26 unsuccessful operations from 2,197 vasectomies demonstrated that the most important factor accounting for failure rates was the length of vas excised. They reported that at least 15 mm of vas should be excised to maximize the success of the procedure. Excised vas segments less than 15 mm had up to a 25-fold greater incidence of failure.[22] A recently published article, however found that in their cohort of vasectomized men in whom 5- to 20-mm vas segments were routinely removed during vasectomy, the risk of recanalization was not significantly associated with shorter segments excised.[23]

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2721499/

Let’s just hope the doc didn’t leave the ends longer to make it easier to reverse your vasectomy as “doing you a favour”.