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Vasectomy and urolithiasis

R A Kronmal1, E Alderman, J N Krieger

  • 1Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, Seattle.

Lancet (London, England)
|January 2, 1988
PubMed

Insights

Vasectomy may increase the risk of developing kidney stones (urolithiasis). This study found a higher relative risk for calculi in men who had undergone vasectomy, particularly younger men.

Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Nephrology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Vasectomy is a common form of male sterilization.
  • Potential long-term health effects of vasectomy are of ongoing research interest.
  • Previous studies have not extensively explored the link between vasectomy and renal disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between vasectomy and the incidence of urological diseases, specifically renal calculi (kidney stones).
  • To quantify the relative risk of developing kidney stones in men who have had a vasectomy.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from 11,205 men participating in the US Coronary Artery Surgery Study.
  • Collection of data on the date of onset and type of urological diseases, including urolithiasis.
  • Calculation of relative risk for calculi based on vasectomy status and age groups.

Main Results:

  • Urolithiasis (kidney stones) was the most frequently reported urological condition.
  • Men who had undergone vasectomy showed an elevated relative risk for kidney stones.
  • The relative risk ranged from 2.6 in men aged 30-35 to 1.3 in men aged 55-65.
  • The overall age-adjusted relative risk for kidney stones in vasectomized men was 1.67 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

  • Vasectomy is associated with an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
  • The findings suggest a potential link between vasectomy and renal calculi that warrants further investigation.
  • Healthcare providers should be aware of this potential association when counseling patients regarding vasectomy.

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