title: Optimizing outcomes in vasectomy: how to ensure sterility and prevent complications.
abstract: Vasectomy provides a long-term effective sterilization for men and is performed on nearly 500,000 men annually in the United States. Improvements in technique have led to a decreased failure rate and fewer complications, although significant variations in technique exist. Use of cautery occlusion with or without fascial interposition appears to have the least failures. A no-scalpel approach lowers risk of hematoma formation, infection and bleeding post-operatively. A patient can be considered sterile when azoospermia is achieved or the semen analysis shows less than 100,000 non-motile sperm per milliliter. Incorporating these principles may allow the physician to optimize outcomes in vasectomy.
authors.affiliation: OhioHealth Urology, Columbus, Ohio 43214, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lowe
keywords: Postoperative complication; sterilization; vasectomy