Semen Testing After A Vasectomy

Semen testing should be undertaken once more than three months has passed from the day of the vasectomy. Tests performed before three months have elapsed are less reliable.

Once your test is clear it signifies that your vasectomy is successful, and you can rely on it for contraceptive purposes. Vasectomy has a very low rate of failure once you have a clear semen test. The chances of conceiving after a correctly performed clear semen test are less than 1 in 2000. This is considerably safer than any other form of contraception, including female sterilisation, but risk of pregnancy after vasectomy is never zero.

Whilst laboratory testing has been the gold standard, it is recognised that this can be difficult or inconvenient to organise, with only half of vasectomised men ever completing follow-up laboratory testing. For this reason, we also offer the home test, SpermCheck Vasectomy, as it can be performed in the comfort of your home. Results are available within 20 minutes and there is no need to deliver the sample to a Regional Laboratory.

SpermCheck Vasectomy uses different technology to monitor the fertile potential of semen post-vasectomy. A negative result indicates future chance of pregnancy to be extremely unlikely (though, as with Laboratory testing, no method of clearance is 100%). However, home test kits are not funded and attract an additional charge of $60.00. Laboratory testing is free if you are eligible for funded healthcare in New Zealand.

When you purchase a home test kit (available at the time of your vasectomy or on-line from our website) it comes with easy-to-follow instructions. Wait until three months has elapsed from your vasectomy, then produce a semen sample and follow the instructions. The home test kit reads in the same way as a pregnancy test – in this case 2 lines in the test window indicates that you are still fertile, whereas a single line in the window confirms that the vasectomy was successful.*

Should the home test indicate that you are still fertile, continue to use contraception and contact us for advice.

*The reading and interpretation of the SpermCheck Vasectomy test is performed by the patient. SNIP Vasectomy Clinics can take no responsibility for incorrect reading or interpretation of the test.

If you prefer to have laboratory testing, you will be given a sample pot by the doctor on the day of your vasectomy. You will receive your 3-month postvasectomy test reminder via email, which will contain a laboratory form along with instructions.

The sample should be produced by masturbation directly into the pot (not via a condom, as this can affect the sample). Write on the collection pot your full legal name, date of birth, “Semen sample”, and time that the sample was produced. Deliver it to the laboratory listed on the lab form within 60 minutes of production (please note, the Laboratories do not have facilities for you to produce the sample on-site).

It will usually take 3-4 business days from delivering the semen sample to the lab before we will contact you with the results by email to confirm the outcome.

It is worth realising that most regions only have one laboratory that can perform the postvasectomy semen test and that you cannot drop the sample off at a satellite test collection centre.

Laboratories will also only analyse specimens during normal office hours.

You should not rely on your vasectomy as contraception until you have received confirmation of clearance from us.

Sometimes it can take longer than three months to clear your ejaculate of sperm. We usually advise repeating a sample four months after your procedure. If this one is positive, we repeat again at six months after your procedure.

If your positive result was on a home test, please get in touch with the clinic and we will advise what to do with regard to repeat sampling.

Occasionally vasectomy fails. If the semen tests continue to show ongoing fertility 6 months after your procedure, if technically possible, you will be offered a repeat procedure with SNIP Clinic free of charge.

The chance of a vasectomy reversing spontaneously once you have become clear is very low. We do not advise repeat testing once you have become clear. However, should you still wish to do this, home test kits are available from our website for this purpose.