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  • Title: Vasectomy linked to increased risk for prostate cancer.
    Author: Bowersox J, Smigel K.
    Journal: J Natl Cancer Inst; 1993 Mar 03; 85(5):354-5. PubMed ID: 8433388.
    Abstract:
    2 case control studies conducted at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, showed an increased risk of developing prostate cancer in men who had undergone a vasectomy. The prospective study followed 37,800 nonvasectomized men and 10,055 vasectomized men between 1986 and 1990 and revealed a 66% increased risk of prostate cancer among vasectomized men. This increased risk was even greater in men who had had a vasectomy at least 22 years earlier (85%). A retrospective study examined 14,607 vasectomized men and 14,607 nonvasectomized men and found a 56% increase in prostate cancer risk. Like to prospective study, the risk as higher after 20 years (89%). Most other studied examining an association between vasectomy and prostate cancer had small numbers of subjects. They found either no association or a weak association. One study did have large numbers, however. In this study, researchers followed 5332 vasectomized cases and 15,996 nonvasectomized controls for almost 7 years and did not find an increased risk for prostate cancer. Nevertheless, the chief investigator of the case control studies emphasized that cumulative epidemiologic data, the apparent absence of bias and confounding, and the effect vasectomy has a prostatic function and the immune system suggest a causal link. An epidemiologist at the National Cancer Institute cautions, however, that, even though the findings from these studies are important, the biologic basis for a causal connection is not known, thus, further studies are needed. The increased risk of prostate cancer in men who had a vasectomy more than 20 years age or were 40 year old at time of vasectomy suggests that physicians should conduct an annual digital rectal exam and determine the serum prostate specific antigen level in these men. The retrospective study did not find an increase overall death rate in vasectomized men and neither study found an increase risk of death from prostate cancer after vasectomy.
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