Cancer and cardiovascular disease after vasectomy: an epidemiological database study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether vasectomy is associated with an increased long-term risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease.


METHODS
Analysis of database of linked statistical records of hospital admissions and deaths.


METHODS
Health region in southern England.


METHODS
Men aged 20-59 years who were admitted to a hospital for vasectomy.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease compared with the corresponding rates in a reference cohort, expressed as a rate ratio.


RESULTS
We found no elevation of risk, after vasectomy, of prostate cancer (rate ratio 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.45-1.14) or other cancers. The rate ratio for coronary heart disease overall after vasectomy was 0.95 (95% CI 0.88-1.02); and the rate ratio > or =20 years after vasectomy was 0.98 (95% CI 0.80-1.19).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings add to the evidence that vasectomy is not associated with an increase in the long-term risk of these diseases.
Goldacre
Michael J
MJ
Department of Public Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom. michael.goldacre@dphpc.ox.ac.uk
Wotton
Clare J
CJ
Seagroatt
Valerie
V
Yeates
David
D
D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014659:Vasectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*