title: The evolution of the Marie Stopes electrocautery no-scalpel vasectomy procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the evolution of the procedure, the reoperation rate and efficacy data for vasectomies performed in Marie Stopes centres during the periods 1990-1994 and 1995-1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of re-operation rates and primary and secondary failures during the periods 1990-1994 and 1995-1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  Marie Stopes vasectomy centres in the UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 41 123 men undergoing vasectomy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The re-operation rate for the period 1990-1994 was 0.7% and fell to 0.46% for 1995-1999. The reported pregnancy rate fell from 1 in 1429 procedures for the period 1990-1994 to 1 in 2804 for 1995-1999.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that vasectomy has had a low failure rate well below that of other methods of birth control. The outcome data continue to improve over time with the evolution of improved techniques and surgical expertise.
authors.affiliation: Marie Stopes International, London, UK.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francome
mesh_terms: D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D006113:United Kingdom; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*