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By Mayo Clinic staffA vasectomy doesn't provide immediate protection against pregnancy. Use an alternative form of birth control until your doctor confirms there are no sperm in your semen. Before having unprotected sex, you'll need to wait up to eight weeks or longer and ejaculate 20 times or more to clear any sperm from your semen.
Most doctors do post-surgery checks at six and eight weeks following surgery to be certain that no sperm are present. You'll need to give your doctor sperm samples to examine. To produce a sperm sample, your doctor will have you masturbate into a container or ask you to have intercourse using a special condom to collect your semen. Your semen is then examined under a microscope to see whether sperm are present.
If you're not in a committed relationship, use condoms during sex — even after you have a vasectomy. Vasectomy is an effective form of birth control, but it won't protect you or your partner from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia or HIV/AIDS.
- Ongaro T, et al. Overview of vasectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Sandlow J. Vasectomy. In: Wein A, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/113902114-4/783811529/1445/37.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0798-6..50036-4--cesec5_2536. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Clenny T, et al. Vasectomy techniques. American Family Physician. http://www.aafp.org/afp/990700ap/137.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
- Cutie CJ. Patient information: Vasectomy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Dec. 9, 2010.
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