A 34-year-old male client underwent a vasectomy one week ago and is at the clinic for a checkup. He asks the nurse how long it will be until he no longer needs to use a backup method of birth control. The nurse explains azoospermia usually occurs

  • 1 month after a vasectomy.
  • 1 year after a vasectomy.
  • 3 – 4 months after a vasectomy.
  • 6 – 8 weeks after a vasectomy.
Number 3 is correct.
Azoospermia (sperm count of zero) usually occurs 3 – 4 months after a vasectomy. Until a semen analysis is performed to confirm a sperm count of zero, a backup method of birth control should be used.