Archive: September 2014
Vasectomy & Prostate Cancer
For many years the association between Vasectomy and an increased risk of Prostate Cancer in otherwise healthy men has waxed and waned in medical opinion.
A study recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (Vasectomy and the Risk of Aggressive Prostate Cancer. A 24-Year Follow-Up Study July 2014 by Siddiqui MM, Wilson KM, Epstein MM et al) seems to provide the strongest evidence yet that such a link exists. Lethal, Advanced and High Grade prostate cancers were 20% higher in men with vasectomy versus those without. Interestingly the association with low-grade tumours was not significant. Although a link with immunity has been implicated the factors causing the increased risk have not been identified.
Having said this the decision on whether or not to have a Vasectomy should not be unduly influenced by these findings as the absolute risk of lethal prostate cancer identified in this study is relatively small at just 1.6%.
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