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Vasectomy and subsequent cardiovascular disease in US physicians
J E Manson1, P M Ridker, A Spelsberg
1Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. jmanson@rics.bwh.harvard.edu
Contraception
|June 26, 1999
Summary
Vasectomy does not increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This large study found no significant link between vasectomy and heart attack, stroke, or angina, even 15 years post-procedure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Urology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Previous animal studies suggested vasectomy may accelerate atherosclerosis.
- The potential cardiovascular risks of vasectomy in humans remained unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between vasectomy and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk.
- To assess risks for myocardial infarction (MI), angina, coronary revascularization, and stroke.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the US Physicians' Health Study (22,071 participants).
- Compared CVD incidence in men with and without prior vasectomy.
- Adjusted for age and other coronary risk factors in multivariate analyses.
Main Results:
- Vasectomy was not associated with an increased risk of MI (RR 0.94), angina/revascularization (RR 0.99), or stroke (RR 0.95).
- No increased risk was observed even for men who had vasectomy 15+ years prior.
- Risk estimates for fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events were similar.
Conclusions:
- Vasectomy does not materially increase the risk of subsequent cardiovascular disease.
- Findings provide reassuring evidence for men considering or having undergone vasectomy.
Keywords:
AmericasBiologyCardiovascular EffectsCerebrovascular EffectsDelivery Of Health CareDeveloped CountriesDiseasesEvaluationFamily PlanningHealthHealth PersonnelHeart DiseasesMale SterilizationMyocardial InfarctionNorth AmericaNorthern AmericaPhysiciansPhysiologyResearch ReportRisk AssessmentSterilization, SexualUnited StatesVasectomy