Post-vasectomy - how long til his 'all clear' ?

[scaevola]

DH sent of his first sample at 17 weeks (should have been 16 but he wrote it down wrongly - grr), and the result was rare non-motile sperm present.

He needs to do more tests at fortnightly intervals until two are clear.

Anyone been in the same boat? How long did it take you to get negative results? Especially if he had RNMS (which I understand means the vasectomy was successful as no swimmers getting through, but still not totally clear tubing; risk of pg apparently very, very low but they don't give the all clear on this).

[scaevola]

Anyone? Please!

[scaevola]

Pretty please?

[Casey]

ours was ages: nearly a year I think. I had no idea it would be that long...

I don't know why, just that he kept sending the samples off, but didn't get the all clear for a long time.

[scaevola]

Oh, drat! That wasn't the kind of timing I was hoping for.

[TheFuzz]

Despite my on-going problems, I was clear at under 16 weeks ! Tada !!

Recently spoke to someone I know who has taken 16 months to get the all clear. Whether weight/fitness has owt to do with it, I don't know as he is rather large.

[TheFuzz]

Non-motil probably mean's he's almost clear - not much longer.

[BearPear]

Mr BP was snipped beginning of December, 3-ish months to first test produced active swimmers. Another test 3-4 weeks later was clear. It has been almost 6 months start to finish, but longer than it needed to be with him delaying producing the sample (distance from home to drop-off potentially longer than the prescribed 20 minutes, plus the clinic's own delays in getting results back).

[TheFuzz]

That clinic thing about 20 minutes is rubbish - I don't know why they insist. Yes for live swimmers, but the test is really to check if there are ANY at all - hence no need to rush.

The GP doing mine said it didn't need to be fresh, just drop off at my local surgery for it to be sent off. I actually dropped it off at the operating surgery, where it then goes off to the local hospital for testing, so certainly wouldn't be 'fresh'.

[scaevola]

There isn't a time frame for us: they're looking (in the first instance at least) for azoospermia, so alive or dead doesn't matter.

And there was a separate category for 'positive', so it seems DH is producing only a very few broken down non-swimmers. I don't know what they'll do if he doesn't become completely negative. Special clearance can be given on persistent RNMS: has at happened to anyone here? And did they need an analysis of fresh semen to confirm non-motile only?

[TheFuzz]

He may have to wait. I know someone who took nearly 18 months to get the all clear. He was very nearly in again to have it re-done.

[scaevola]

We are going to have to wait. I was miffed that he hadn't done second sample at the two week interval, and then he tells me that he's had a letter telling him 4 weeks not two. I can see the point (it may reduce the number of tests as more time and depletion of whatever is hanging round will have taken place), but the feeling of 'so near and yet so far' is surprisingly annoying.

I do know far worse things could have happened post-op though! TheFuzz - any improvements for you?

[TheFuzz]

No, bad to worse. Seen Urology again. Asked if they would do a bi-lateral epididymectomy, no chance, as the operation risks the testlcle anyway, so wouldn't do two at once. Have to see if first one is successful (only 50%) then may do the other. If no success I am really in the sh1t !

Well at least I was clear at 16 weeks, but friskyness is out of the window as it leaves me in agony. 100% effective contraception !

[Eastpoint]

I thought there had to be 26 ejaculations as a starting point. Do they not say that anymore?

[scaevola]

We're way past 26

Different providers have different "when to test" protocols, I believe. And then time to sterility seems to vary between individuals as well.

[TheFuzz]

It can take over a year to clear. I know someone that did.

[scaevola]

That is so much what I didn't want to hear!

It seems such a long time since the op back in January, and we've got our holiday booked for July as soon as the DC break up. If there are still RNMS in the next sample, and they keep at 4 (not 2) weekly tests, then there will be no chance it being fuss-free when we're away. Rats!

[TheFuzz]

Think yourselves lucky. Get what I've got and your friskyness will be down to once a month if lucky. Any of that leaves me in agony.

I've got a mate who has just assume dhe'd be clear - hasn't actually sent his sample in - bit stupid if you ask me

[scaevola]

On the principle of walking a mile in someone else's shoes, I am indeed grateful that DH is not in your pants!

Still RNMS at 5 months.

I've been on to Dr Google, and the chances of starting a PG with a sperm count like that are seriously remote, especially when you also take my age into account. But it's just not the same as properly clear.

Oh balls!

[scaevola]

Still not clear...

[TheFuzz]

oh bugger

[scaevola]

The amazing non-clearing DH has finally had a first clear sample - 9 months on!

They want to do one more to check, but finally an end is in sight, and the route from the to the outside world is possibly properly occluded.

Better news for us. TheFuzz - hope there's improving news for you too.

[TheFuzz]

Good news there, finally then. Phew

I'm still awaiting surgery. Down side is the wait - 7 months since first recommending surgery, 3 months since they put me forward for it.

Worse one being done first fortunately, as there is an additional "mess" from the original botched surgery, then I need the 'other' one sorting out.

Might be sorted by 2015 !

Hopefully when fixed, we might get "things" back on track !

[scaevola]

Well, what should have been the final go-for-it sample has some (broken?) fragments in it, so they want another.

If not totally clear next time, it'll need to be a warm, fresh, living sample next to check for motility.

Has anyone/anyone's OH had an all clear at 10+ months?

What are the chances he'll need to be re-done?

[scarevola]

And another still not fully clear.

Anyone else been through this? If I understood properly, now he needs a referral to a different lab for a warm, fresh sample to see if there are any motile swimmers in the (apparently small amount of) gubbins. If it's all dead/broken, do they give an all clear on one sample like that? Or will more than one be needed?

[TheFuzz]

He probably needs two clear samples. Best to be safe. There is a possibility of the tubes reconnecting with scar tissue within those first few months. The count is obviously going the right way. As I said earlier, a friend took nearly 16 months to clear, he'd been done a year before me but was clear at about the same time.