How to Read a Sperm Analysis Report After Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a simple surgery where the tubes that carry sperm are cut or blocked to stop pregnancy [1]. After vasectomy, doctors perform sperm analysis tests to confirm that the procedure was successful.

The purpose of a sperm analysis test after vasectomy is to check if there are any sperm present in the semen [2].

But how to read sperm test results after vasectomy?

In this guide, we will discuss the process of sperm analysis testing after vasectomy. We will also explain to you how to read a sperm analysis report after vasectomy procedure.

Purpose of Sperm Analysis After Vasectomy

After the surgical procedure of vasectomy, doctors commonly perform a sperm analysis test to evaluate the success of the procedure.

This semen analysis test provides different information about sperm cells, such as sperm concentration, sperm motility, and sperm morphology [3]. The purpose of the sperm analysis test post-vasectomy is to see if sperm are present in the semen.

However, if you want to read the semen analysis results yourself, you might not know how to read sperm count test results after vasectomy.

Interpreting Post-Vasectomy Test Results

The process of sperm analysis test after vasectomy is straightforward. All you need is to submit a sample of your semen and wait for the results.

However, you may not be able to interpret your sperm analysis report.

This can occur firstly due to the use of medical terms in the report. Secondly, you may not know what type of results indicate the success of vasectomy and what indicates the failure of this surgery.

Let’s have a look at the different aspects of sperm analysis test reports and understand what the reports indicate about vasectomy.

Key Terms In the Report: Azoospermia to Oligospermia

Azoospermia refers to the absence of sperm in the semen. If the test result shows azoospermia, this indicates the success of vasectomy.

Another term that you may see in the semen test reports is oligospermia. While azoospermia means the absence of sperm cells, oligospermia means the deficiency of sperm cells in the semen.

Oligospermia in the test results indicates that sperm cells are still present in the semen in some amounts. Even this low sperm count means the vasectomy was not successful, and sperm can still pass through the blocked duct.

Interpreting the Results

Here is how to read post-vasectomy lab results:

1. Zero sperm count or azoospermia means successful vasectomy. This means that the person can’t conceive, and there is almost zero chance of pregnancy.
2. The reports may indicate the presence of non-motile sperms. Having non-motile sperms after vasectomy is rare, but they can exist [4]. However, there is a very low chance that these non-motile sperm can swim in the female reproductive tract and fertilize an egg.
3. If the sperm test result shows motile sperm, even in small amounts, it may indicate that the vasectomy was not successful and there is a chance of conception.

What to do After the Semen Analysis Report?

When the post-vasectomy sample shows no sperm, it is a sign that your vasectomy surgery was successful. However, if the post-vasectomy sperm test results show motile sperm, it indicates that the vasectomy was not successful.

If your post-vasectomy sperm sample results show oligospermia or motile sperms, you must consult with the doctor who operated you for vasectomy. The doctor will evaluate the causes of sperm cell presence in the post-vasectomy sperm analysis report.

FAQs

1. How to read sperm analysis results after vasectomy?

Many people don’t know how to read seminal fluid analysis reports after the vasectomy procedure because of the use of medical terms in the report. Azoospermia in the reports refers to normal or positive reports, while oligospermia refers to negative reports.

2. How to read sperm count results?

Usually, in the sperm count results, 15 million to over 200 million sperm per milliliter indicates normal results. However, for normal results after vasectomy, the sperm count should be zero.

Conclusion

Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for birth control, where the tube that carries sperm is cut or blocked. Post-vasectomy semen analysis is a part of vasectomy as it indicates the success of this procedure.

However, many people don’t know how to read semen analysis reports after vasectomy. Sperm analysis interpretation is very straightforward.

When sperm test results show no motile sperm, this indicates the success of vasectomy. If there is the presence of sperm cells in the post-vasectomy sperm count results, it hints at the failure of vasectomy. This means the person can still make the partner pregnant.

Resources Used

1. Stormont, G., & Deibert, C. M. (2023, April 10). Vasectomy. In StatPearls (updated January 2024). StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK549904/
2. Agarwal, A., Gupta, S., Sharma, R. K., Finelli, R., Kuroda, S., Vij, S. C., Boitrelle, F., Kavoussi, P., Rambhatla, A., Saleh, R., Chung, E., Mostafa, T., Zini, A., Ko, E., Parekh, N., Martinez, M., Arafa, M., Tadros, N., Le, T. V., . . .  Shah, R. (2022). Post-Vasectomy Semen Analysis: Optimizing Laboratory Procedures and Test Interpretation through a Clinical Audit and Global Survey of Practices. The World Journal of Men's Health, 40(3), 425-441. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.210191 
3. Sunder, M., & Leslie, S. W. (2022, October 24). Semen analysis. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK564369/
4. Zini, A. (2010). Vasectomy update 2010. Canadian Urological Association Journal, 4(5), 306-309. https://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.10123