Outcome of vasectomies performed at a Turkish metropolitan maternity hospital.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine prospectively the outcome of vasectomies performed by two trained surgeons over a 9-month period at the Ministry of Health Ankara Etlik Maternity and Women's Health Teaching and Research Hospital Family Planning Centre. METHODS: The demographic data, source of information concerning the method, sexual function before and after voluntary no-scalpel vasectomy, compliance with the post-vasectomy follow-up program of men applying for a vasectomy were analyzed. All patients were contacted by telephone and invited for follow-up visits for counseling, inquiry regarding sexual dysfunction, and performance of a semen analysis. RESULTS: The patients were married men, mostly primary school graduates, with more than one child. Sources of information were health services and/or health personnel for 89% of the patients. Of the 279 men who underwent a vasectomy and who were later contacted by phone, 131 (47%) came for a follow-up assessment. There was only one post-vasectomy pregnancy (0.8%). The incidence of reported sexual problems did not change after the procedure. Vasectomy did not affect the sexual function of men in our study. CONCLUSION: Compliance with follow-up after vasectomy, which is extremely important for assessment of its successful outcome, is low.