A 34-year-old man underwent conventional vasectomy. He insists on stopping all other precautions immediately. His surgeon advises continued contraception until sterility is confirmed. When and how is successful sterilization best confirmed?

• A Semen analysis showing oligozoospermia at 2 weeks
• B Disappearance of sperm motility on semen analysis at 48 hours
• C Negative urine luteinizing hormone test at 4 weeks
• D Semen analysis showing azoospermia at about 12 weeks after surgery ✓

Explanation

Vasectomy does not produce immediate sterility because viable sperm persist distal to the ligated vasa. Clearance takes roughly 3 months or about 20 ejaculations, so another contraceptive method must be used until a semen analysis confirms azoospermia at around 12 weeks. D single early semen test can be falsely reassuring, and persistence of occasional non-motile sperm may still be acceptable per WHO criteria.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.