Cancer and cardiovascular disease after vasectomy: an epidemiological database study

Objective: To determine whether is associated with an increased long-term risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease. Design: Analysis of database of linked statistical records of hospital admissions and death. Setting: Health region in southern England. Patient(s): Men aged 20-59 years who were admitted to a hospital for vasectomy. Interventions(s): None Main Outcome Measure(s): Rates of cancer and cardiovascular disease compared with the corresponding rates in a reference cohort, expressed as a rate ratio. Results(s): 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 >= 20 years after vasectomy was 0.98 (95% CI 0.80-1.19). Conclusion(s): Our findings add to the evidence that vasectomy is not associated with an increase in the long-term risk of these diseases.