The morbidity of vasectomy

Elective bilateral vasectomy has become an established surgical procedure to achieve sterilization in the male. The ability to accomplish this by an ambulatory technique, with few side-effects, probably accounts for the widespread demand by the general public. However, a number of significant complications were encountered in a series of 250 patients who were carefully surveyed to determine the actual morbidity of this operation. In addition, five patients exhibited spontaneous regeneration of the severed vas deferens, one instance having been documented as occurring after the absence of spermatozoa from the ejaculate. These difficulties must be emphasized in preoperative discussions with patients seeking this method of contraception.