Complications of vasectomy: results from a prospective audit of 105 393 procedures

Abstract

ObjectivesTo provide up‐to‐date complication rates for vasectomy in the UK using 15 years of data collected by the Association of Surgeons in Primary Care (ASPC).Patients and MethodsData were collected between 2007 and March 2022. A patient questionnaire was completed on the day of surgery and at 4 months postoperatively. Rates of early and late failure, infection, hospital admission or re‐admission, haematoma and post‐vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) were recorded. There were no specific exclusion criteria. Complication rates were compared to those published by major urological organisations. Descriptive statistics were utilised, without formal statistical analysis.ResultsOver the 15‐year study period, data from 105 393 vasectomies were collected, performed by >150 surgeons. In 2022, 94.4% of surgeons used one test to prove sterility. In all, 65% of patients used a postal sperm test after vasectomy to confirm sterility. Early failure rates were available for 69 500 patients. Early failure occurred in 648 patients (0.93%). Of 99 124 patients, late failure occurred in 41 (0.04%). Of 102 549 vasectomies, postoperative infection was reported in 1250 patients (1.22%), haematoma in 1599 patients (1.56%), and PVPS was reported in 139 patients (0.14%).ConclusionsVasectomy remains a safe and reliable contraceptive method. The rates of complication were generally lower than those published by major urological organisations. This large, prospective audit provides accurate, contemporaneous complication rates that can form the basis for pre‐vasectomy counselling.