According to the Mayo Clinic, a vasectomy is considered to be a permanent form of birth control for men. With a vasectomy, the tubes that carry sperm are cut and closed off so sperm can no longer leave the testicles to create a pregnancy.
A vasectomy is generally considered to be a safe procedure. However, there has been some debate about whether having a vasectomy is a risk factor for prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is cancer arising in the prostate, the small gland under the bladder that produces semen and protects sperm. The American Urological Association‘s guidelines, which were last updated in 2015, state that there is no evidence of an association between vasectomy and prostate cancer. On the other hand, there is newer research that casts doubt on this claim. So, what’s the truth? Should you be worried that getting a vasectomy will put you at greater risk for prostate cancer?
Do vasectomies increase prostate cancer risk?
The short answer is that we don’t yet have any reason to second-guess the current guidance. However, questions have been raised because the studies done since the American Urology Association’s assessment paint an inconsistent picture. A 2017 review published in JAMA Internal Medicine which examined 53 studies performed between 1990 and 2017 found that there may be a slight, but almost insignificant, link between the procedure and prostate cancer in mild to severe cases. Also, it found no association between vasectomy and advanced prostate cancer.
Additionally, there was a 2020 study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute which followed more than 2 million Danish men for 38 years. This study was suggestive of a link between vasectomy and a higher risk of prostate cancer.
Also, a 2021 review published in Prostate Cancer and Prostatic Diseases found that there was a strong association between the two. This study, however, did not find a link between vasectomy and the risk of dying from prostate cancer.
Finally, a 2022 meta-analysis published in European Urology Open Science found an increased risk for prostate cancer of about 6%. Again, however, there was no link between vasectomy and advanced prostate cancer or dying from prostate cancer.
Why is the recent research so inconsistent?
According to Joseph Pazona, MD, to sort things out, it’s important to understand the difference between correlation and causation. In other words, just because two things are statistically linked, this doesn’t mean that one caused the other.
When it comes to vasectomy and prostate cancer, Pazona believes it may be that men who seek out vasectomies are also more likely to see a doctor in general so they are the same people who get prostate cancer screenings and end up getting their prostate cancer diagnosed. “Who’s most likely to go to a urologist for a prostate biopsy?” he said. “The same guy who went to urologist 20-30 years earlier for a vasectomy. Correlation not causation.”
Healthline further points out the difficulties in constructing a study that would prove causation. They note that animal studies have shown a potential mechanism of action. However, this mechanism have not been proven to apply to humans.
In the meantime, there are several known ways to reduce your risk for prostate cancer (per Men’s Health). Improving your diet, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, stopping smoking, cutting down on alcohol, increasing vitamin D, and staying sexually active can all help (per Johns Hopkins Medicine).
Also, there’s no reason to avoid getting a vasectomy for fear of getting prostate cancer. “If you are considering having a vasectomy but are worried about it causing cancer, don’t let this myth influence your decision!” said Pazona.