A Vasectomy May Increase Prostate Cancer Risk.

[RiffRandell]

Men with vasectomies may be at an increased risk for the most lethal form of prostate cancer, researchers have found. But aggressive cancer nonetheless remains rare in these patients.

Earlier studies had hinted at a connection between vasectomies and prostate cancer. Many experts have dismissed the idea of a link: Men who have vasectomies may receive more medical attention, they said, and therefore may be more likely to receive a diagnosis. The new study, published this month in The Journal of Clinical Oncology, sought to account for that possibility and for other variables.

The reason for the increase is unclear, but some experts have speculated that immunological changes, abnormal cell growth or hormonal imbalances following a vasectomy may also affect prostate cancer risk.

“If someone asked for a vasectomy, I would have to tell them that there is this new data in this regard, but it’s not enough for me to change the standard of care,” he said. “I would not say that you should avoid vasectomy.”

Link: http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/17/a-vasectomy-may-increase-prostate-cancer-risk/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=1&

[VanillaRhapsody]

1. and THIS female loves men with vasectomies!

there are non spoken of advantages..

[RiffRandell]

2. It was easier for me to get my tubes tied

during my 2nd C-section. It was a relief after being on the pill for so long.

[VanillaRhapsody]

16. huh? How is THAT easier than a vasectomy?

Good grief....this is what is wrong...

besides what does that have anything to do with my unspoken of advantages....

these advantages are sexual NOT birth preventative...

[RiffRandell]

18. The doctor was already down there delivering my baby.

I chose it, it was no big deal, so why are you judging me?

[VanillaRhapsody]

20. Who said judging.....it is still NOT easier than a Vasectomy...

which takes about 20 minutes and 2 stitches and can be done with NO general anesthesia.....AND can be reversed....

By the way...YOU replied to me...

[RiffRandell]

24. My body, my choice and for me it wasn't a big deal. nt

[VanillaRhapsody]

25. Yeah right....its the biggest inequality in this country...

women will tie THEIR tubes to prevent men from seeking a vasectomy....which takes 20 minutes and a shot of the good stuff.

I know a man that left his vasectomy on a Harley....knocked out both stitches and never even knew.

This conversation is about vasectomies.....by the way....not Tubal Ligations...which are almost always permanent, costly and requires General Anesthesia...THE most dangerous part of any surgery.


But lets go back to talking about the sexual advantages of sleeping with a vasectomized man.....can you say..."clean"?

[RiffRandell]

27. Well, I survived.

You're right. It is about vasectomies. My husband would have gotten one if I asked him to. It was my choice.

Have a nice day.

[VanillaRhapsody]

29. Yeah and one exception doesn't change the rule either does it...

[4b5f940728b232b034e4]

52. ?

Why are you so against them?

[VanillaRhapsody]

55. because millions of them occur simply because men are afraid.....

women put their very lives at risk so that men do not go through a procedure that takes 20 minutes....and you can be awake for....that requires 2 tiny stitches AND it can be reversed....

Oh and lets not forget how abdominal surgery of any kind on women risks damaging their ability to enjoy sex ...though when men have abdominal surgery they are careful about not damaging nerves that men need to get erections......they do NOT pay attention to those nerves in women because they do not find that to be worth the time....

[Inkfreak]

68. "simply because men are afraid....."

This is pure bullshit. Unless you know the dynamics of every relationship.

"they do NOT pay attention to those nerves in women because they do not find that to be worth the time...."

Who is "they"? The doctors? They don't care about their patients health & well being?

I'm sure one could argue the merits of vasectomies over getting tubes tied without using hyperbole, if one tried. Or gave a whit.

[blueamy66]

69. My guy was afraid.

Won't do it.

[delta17]

70. There are some horror stories on the web about side effects.

I was afraid for a while too. I think it's a classic case of too much information. Eventually I just trusted the Mayo Clinic website and got it done. It turned out OK.

[blueamy66]

73. I was just saying that my ex wouldn't do it.

no generalizations.....

[StevieM]

58. I believe RISUG will end this whole debate when it is finally approved (eom)

[VanillaRhapsody]

59. yet it still requires a tiny incision....and women will still willingly go under anesthesia....

to keep squeamish men from having to do that....

[StevieM]

60. Well, I can't speak for all men, but I would tend to think that

many men would be more eager to have a procedure that doesn't involve cutting. Also, a lot of men will probably want the procedure done long before they get married, or plan on having kids. I think a lot of guys would like to get it done when they are 18, or even younger. And if they have it done when they are younger, then they probably won't have a problem doing it a second time when they are older.

[VanillaRhapsody]

61. Uh I think you better read up....it does involve cutting....

what I just read was an incision is made and then the Vas Deferens are found and then it is injected directly into that in a certain way because it is a gel that has the opposite electrical charge as the sperm do....and ouf ot 250 who have tried it...I think it said only one failure.....

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

76. lol Vanilla is relentless

There's only one opinion that matters and she'll force us to accept it

[StevieM]

57. OK, we can go back to talking about that. Can you explain it to me?

I don't understand what the difference is, in terms of sexual advantages. To be clear, I am not being combative or anything. I honestly never knew there was a difference.

Also, hasn't tubal ligation given way to the essure procedure?

I get the impression that vasectomies will eventually give way to RISUG, when it gets approved in the U.S.

[REP]

43. My ex walked home from his vasectomy; I had some complications from my tubal fulguration

My complications were due to my ongoing issues and my small intestine was bruised when retracted. Still, when I went home I did laundry at a laundromat.

My ex had no complications with his vasectomy and alas, is still alive

[pnwmom]

63. Here are the risks you faced from that procedure:

http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/adult_health/obg_post_partum_tubal_ligation/

They're not insignificant:

Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure and any risks. Some possible risks include:
• Anesthesia has some risks. Discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
• The abdominal organs, glands, intestines, or blood vessels may be damaged. You may need abdominal surgery to repair them. However, these are very rare events.
• The lining of the abdominal wall may become inflamed.
• A blood clot may break off, enter the bloodstream, and clog an artery in the lung, pelvis, or legs. Rarely, a clot may break off and clog an artery in the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
• Scar tissue (adhesions) may form on the pelvic organs.
• You may have infection or bleeding.
• Even though tubal ligation is considered permanent sterilization, there is a slight possibility that a woman who has had a tubal ligation could get pregnant. If you have had a tubal ligation and you get pregnant, the chances are very high that the pregnancy will be outside the uterus. You will then need surgery to remove the pregnancy.

[RiffRandell]

64. Yeah, I signed the fucking form, and still fine with it.

Wtf???? Has DU turned into a birthing center? This shit is fucked up.

CHOICE!!!!!!!!

[safeinOhio]

6. My ex divorced me right after I got one.

Right after I started to suffer from low T and now give myself injections every week. The doctors swear there is no connection, but if you read the not so official claims on the net you get a different story.

There are problems with vasectomies, rare but there.

[RiffRandell]

11. I'm sorry.

That's rough.

[REP]

44. Unfortunately, there's complications with every BC method

My sterilization had some complications during surgery, but knock wood, none since. My Fallopian tubes were completely burnt out, so the risk of ectopic pregnancy was greatly reduced (one of the risks of tubal ligation).

I'm sorry yours had problems. I'm a big advocate of sterilization for those who want it.

[IronLionZion]

3. yikes

I've been thinking of this. I wonder if they have any other preventive treatments to reduce the cancer risk?

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. Yes...regular masturbation....

it's the one thing we know of that prevents prostate cancer....

For men in their 50s, "frequent masturbation" was one or more times per week. Compared to same-age men who reported never masturbating, 50-something frequent masturbators had a 70% lower risk of prostate cancer.

http://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/news/20090127/masturbation-and-prostate-cancer-risk

[ProdigalJunkMail]

32. not that i have an issue with masturbation

but wouldn't regular sex achieve the desired goal? i admit that i have not read the article but am curious...

sP

[VanillaRhapsody]

33. well it appears that masturbation is .....

it says it tested against men that do not masturbate....and I assume most of those have regular sex as it didn't explicitly say they had no sexual activity at all...

[ProdigalJunkMail]

34. i would think the desired result of the activity would be emission...

i wonder what benefit masturbation provides over actual sex? interesting...thanks, will read up on it...

sP

[VanillaRhapsody]

35. Welcome....and get busy!

its good for ya!

[ProdigalJunkMail]

36. too late ;-)

[RiffRandell]

37. Ha! nt

[joshcryer]

49. Well, old codgers getting some, that poses a whole other problem.

[IronLionZion]

40. Would that still be true after a vasectomy?

"The reason for the increase is unclear, but some experts have speculated that immunological changes, abnormal cell growth or hormonal imbalances following a vasectomy may also affect prostate cancer risk."

I would think something is getting backed up somewhere.

On the other hand Mayo Clinic seems to refute this finding: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer/expert-answers/vasectomy/faq-20058022

[VanillaRhapsody]

41. I would think so....the only thing it does is prevent sperm from entering the fluid....

the clear fluid is still produced....

[awoke_in_2003]

45. Hmm, the line from the song Fame just popped in my head

"I'm gonna live forever"

[merrily]

4. Sad. Every form of birth control seems to have

potential for undesirable side effects, including abstinence. And giving birth repeatedly is a potential killer, too.

[randome]

5. We are flawed machines.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Where do uncaptured mouse clicks go?[/center][/font][hr]

[safeinOhio]

8. Other than breakage

the condom might be best and you could double bag it.

[RiffRandell]

12. I tend to agree.

I know a few long time married couples that use them.

[merrily]

14. I am female, but I have heard

men complain that sex with condoms is not as pleasurable. And you don't always have one available when you would like to have one available. Compared with cancer, stroke, etc., though, those "side effects" do not seem so bad.

I was just thinking about my maternal grandmother this morning. She had 12 kids. My father in law's mom had 14.

[RiffRandell]

15. Women have complained too, but I think they've come

a long way, no pun intended.

[VanillaRhapsody]

21. agreed and one of my grandmothers had 16....and 57 grandchildren...

[IronLionZion]

42. I've heard its worse for women

and some people have latex allergies.

Polyisoprene condoms are something to look into, and the harder to find female condoms feel fantastic for both partners. Both of those options are expensive, but worth it.

[RiffRandell]

10. Yeah, I hated the pill but took it as it was the easiest before

getting pregnant. I gained weight, I smoked so there was risk of stroke....got pregnant within a month both times of going off of it when we wanted to get pregnant, which had a major factor in getting my tubes ties.

Mom had 5 kids, so I suspect I inherited her fertility.

[merrily]

19. With smoking and the pill and weight gain, there is highly increased risk of clotting in general.

Each one of those things could increase the risk of clotting, but all three together, wowza.

The clotting could manifest as a stroke, or one or more clots could occur somewhere else in the body and cause massive problems. and no matter where the clots occur, death is always a possibility. You've eliminated the risk from at least one of those three factors.

[VanillaRhapsody]

22. we are all dying of something....

there is no escaping that...

by the way...I took BC pills for 18 yrs....no side effects....no weight gain (in fact was anorexic part of those years) and LOVED being on them. Now that I am menopausal I am back on them again....its great!

[VanillaRhapsody]

17. Except for masturbation....

haven't heard of that having side effects....

[safeinOhio]

30. Only good ones

Ernest Borgnine found the Fountain of Youth.
http://hypervocal.com/entertainment/2012/ernest-borgnine-masturbation-fox/

[VanillaRhapsody]

31. Exactly!

Get busy loving yourself men!

[In_The_Wind]

7. Sorry to hear that.

[panader0]

9. My doctor told me that twenty years ago when I got mine.

[RiffRandell]

13. I've never heard of it, but glad you are well! nt

[steve2470]

23. thanks for the OP, RiffRandell, much appreciated nt

[RiffRandell]

28. No problem, and thanks! nt

[madville]

38. Well worth the risk

Much better than the multiple heart attacks one has raising teenagers

[RiffRandell]

39. Well, I'm female but have a son that just turned 13 last month.

Scary.

[BrotherIvan]

46. This article is needless fearmongering

They do not even know if there is a causal relationship. Vasectomies for men are far safer than any form of birth control for women.

[RiffRandell]

47. It said it's rare.

I was a caregiver to my husband who almost died from oral cancer. Really fun stuff.

Just putting out what I read, but I think most vasectomies are safe.

[BrotherIvan]

50. I'm sorry to hear about your husband

Hope he is doing ok. Hope you are too. I cared fro my mother through her cancer and it nearly killed me, so I know what you mean.

But the article itself is rather poorly written and misleading. They are saying they don't really know if vasectomies cause cancer, just that there is some kind of coincidental relationship. That's very sloppy thinking. It shouldn't deter anyone from getting a vasectomy.

[RiffRandell]

51. Thank you very much.

I'm sure we have a lot in common as caregivers. I'm not the nursing type at all but was awesome and I was pregnant...didn't know if he/she (our daughter) would ever know each other.

I agree vasectomies are safe....just putting it out there. Not wanting to start a fight...shit every time you turn around these days "something" causes cancer.

[BrotherIvan]

53. I'm not blaming you

After my experience, I realized the medical community has very little idea about what causes cancer. They don't really know what it is. I think that's from misnaming it in the first place. It should have been separated out and called something general such as liver malignancy, breast malignancy, oral malignancy. Some fast growing, common malignancies such as breast, the treatments we use are becoming better. But others, such as pancreas, they basically have no treatment for at all. It's very scary.

[RiffRandell]

54. Oh, I didn't think you were at all.

I thank you for your thoughtful responses. My husband is 8 years in remission.

Cancer is something I wouldn't wish on anyone, and that's a pretty strong statement coming from an opinionated girl like myself.

[joshcryer]

48. Oh well, I thought prostrate cancer was a 100% risk?

Just that most men died of other causes before they got it?

[mike_c]

56. well shit....

Way too late to worry about that now, I guess. On the other hand, I avoided several cases of parenthood.

[pnwmom]

62. Which birth control method poses no risks to women?

http://www.summitmedicalgroup.com/library/adult_health/obg_post_partum_tubal_ligation/

For example, a postpartum tubal ligation:

Your healthcare provider will explain the procedure and any risks. Some possible risks include:
• Anesthesia has some risks. Discuss these risks with your healthcare provider.
• The abdominal organs, glands, intestines, or blood vessels may be damaged. You may need abdominal surgery to repair them. However, these are very rare events.
• The lining of the abdominal wall may become inflamed.
• A blood clot may break off, enter the bloodstream, and clog an artery in the lung, pelvis, or legs. Rarely, a clot may break off and clog an artery in the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.
• Scar tissue (adhesions) may form on the pelvic organs.
• You may have infection or bleeding.
• Even though tubal ligation is considered permanent sterilization, there is a slight possibility that a woman who has had a tubal ligation could get pregnant. If you have had a tubal ligation and you get pregnant, the chances are very high that the pregnancy will be outside the uterus. You will then need surgery to remove the pregnancy.

[RiffRandell]

65. Why don't you just say you are pro-vasectomy?

I am too...I just made a CHOICE for my body.

[pnwmom]

66. I don't have a blanket position except to point out that all methods have risks.

And the medical position is that vasectomies, even with the very small risk of cancer, pose fewer risks to men than tubal ligations do to women.

[Scuba]

72. Now you tell me?

Mine was nearly 40 years ago. So far, so good.

[RiffRandell]

75. And I'm glad.

I think they are fine; it's like this. When my husband was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer do you forgo radiation that is recommended because it could cause cancer when he's 80?

Hell no!