"The failure rate for a vasectomy is less than one percent. But your vasectomy is no immediate guarantee against pregnancy because of the sperm stored above the part where the vas deferens was cut. Thus, your physician will want to test your ejaculate for sperm. Generally, in most men the semen becomes sperm-free after eight to 10 ejacula¬tions following the vasectomy. Until your physician has determined that your ejaculate does not contain sperm, you should continue to use contraception," said Dr. David E. Larson, editor-in-chief of the "Mayo Clinic Family Health Book."