No Increase In Prostate Cancer Risk After A Vasectomy

A vasectomy is a common procedure performed as a permanent birth control method and involves obstructing the vas deferens (the duct which conveys sperm from the testicles to the urethra) by blocking these tubes through surgical manipulation. Annually, around 500,000 men in the United States, between the ages of 25 and 49, have this procedure performed. Men who have a vasectomy done worry about whether this procedure will have any negative effects such as affecting their sex life or failure in preventing a pregnancy.

A major concern of vasectomies that occurred was regarding an increased risk of prostate cancer. This was after a large clinical study in 2014 showed an association between vasectomies and a 10% increased risk of developing prostate cancer and a 20% elevated risk of being diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. Despite these findings, the researchers of the 2014 study admitted that the overall risk of developing prostate cancer was very low in these patients, and even if there was an increased risk of prostate cancer it was more likely to be restricted to cancers that are aggressive, which are relatively rare.

The more recent study

A new study was performed more recently where the primary outcome was to determine the incidence of prostate cancer in the test subjects, and the secondary outcome was to gather information regarding the grading and staging of prostate cancer, as well as its mortality rate. 

The researchers analyzed the data of over 326,500 men aged between 20 and 65 who had a vasectomy done and compared them to men with a similar health status and age range who didn’t have the procedure performed. The researchers then followed up on 50% of the men for just under 11 years. 

The findings

In the study period it was discovered that just over 1,800 men in the vasectomy group and over 1,600 men in the control group had developed prostate cancer. By the end of the study 50 men had died from prostate cancer.

This study determined that men who had vasectomies performed on them had around a 5% increased chance of developing a potentially fatal high-grade prostate cancer, a 4% increased risk of developing an advanced prostate cancer and a 6% elevation in mortality risk.

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It's important to note though that these findings were too small to rule out these prostate cancers from occurring as a result of random chance. Other limitations to this study included a lack in data regarding factors such as what type of screening tests for prostate cancer the test subjects underwent, their family history, ejaculation frequency, eating habits and ethnicity.

Clinical significance

A vasectomy is a relatively safe method of birth control for men to undergo. Although there are some concerns associated with a vasectomy, physicians performing the procedure can put their patients' minds at ease with the fact that the procedure itself will not directly cause a major increase in the risk of developing prostate cancer, especially aggressive ones that can be fatal.

Information Regarding Prostate Cancer

The prostate gland is a small, round organ situated just below the bladder in men. The function of this organ is to produce seminal fluid which acts as a transport medium for sperm.

Cancer of the prostate is one of the most common cancers to occur in men. Prostate cancer grows slowly and it stays confined to the organ in most cases. A study once showed that in 80% of men who died in their 80's from various causes had prostate cancer that was never previously detected.

Just as there are prostate cancers that are benign and don't cause any issues in men, there are aggressive types that exist which can cause localised invasion of surrounding tissue and metastatic disease.

Risk factors for developing prostate cancer

The cause of prostate cancer isn't that clear although the growth of cancer cells in the organ has to do with DNA damage of the cells in the prostate. Certain risk factors for developing with problem have been identified and they include the following:

• Advanced age - older cells are more prone to damage and therefore turning into cancerous growths.
• Having a family history of prostate or breast cancer.
• Black men - it's not known why this happens, but black men have a higher chance of developing aggressive or advanced cancers.
• Obesity can result in men being diagnosed with more aggressive types of prostate cancer.

Symptoms

Prostate cancer will usually cause no problems in the early stages of the disease. However, when the prostate enlarges, it will cause obstructive issues. These signs and symptoms include the following:

• Decreased force in the stream of urine.
• Trouble to start urinating.
• Dribbling after one is done urinating.
• Discomfort in the pelvic area.
• Blood in the semen
• Bone pain, especially in the lower back.
• Erectile dysfunction.

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Complications

Although prostate cancer is a slow progressing condition, it can cause numerous detrimental effects to an affected individual's health. Complications associated with prostate cancer include the following issues:

• Metastatic disease - prostate cancer cells can invade surrounding tissue, such as the bladder and colon, or it can travel through the blood stream and lymphatic circulation where it can reach and affect other organs such as the liver and lungs. The first area where prostate cancer spreads to is the lower back where it invades the spinal vertebrae. Metastatic prostate cancer can still respond to treatment, but the chances of complete remission are poor.
• Urinary incontinence - the scenario here is that of a "catch-22" situation since prostate cancer and the management of the condition can both result in urinary incontinence. This problem can be managed effectively enough though the use of certain medications and surgical interventions.
• Erectile dysfunction - prostate cancer can invade the nervous system responsible for proper erectile functioning, but so can the treatment of prostate cancer. Just as with urinary incontinence, condition and management seem to both cause these issues. Erectile dysfunction can be managed with oral and injectable medication, as well as by using certain instruments and vacuum devices and surgical interventions.