Shoag J, et al. – The association between vasectomy and prostate cancer in the Prostate Lung Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) cancer screening trial was inspected. In men who were screened for prostate cancer as part of a clinical trial, no link was observed between vasectomy and prostate cancer risk, however, vasectomy demonstrated an association with prostate cancer detection in men receiving usual care.

Methods

• A retrospective analysis of 13-year screening and outcomes data from the PLCO trial, was conducted.
• The clinicians conducted multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression stratified by study arm and age at vasectomy.

Results

• Data demonstrated an increased risk of prostate cancer in men who had undergone a vasectomy and were randomized to the usual care arm of the study (adjusted hazard ratio 1.11, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.20, p=0.008).
• No association was observed between vasectomy and diagnosis of prostate cancer in men randomized to the prostate cancer screening arm.
• This study unearthed increased risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer in men undergoing vasectomy at an older age in the usual care arm of the study, but not the prostate cancer screening arm.