Vasectomy and Vasovasostomy - Long-Term Complications

Heart Disease and Other Changes. Experts are concerned that, theoretically, changes in the immune system might cause damage in other parts of the body, including contributing to heart disease. Animal research, in fact, has suggested that heart disease accelerates after vasectomy. However, a large 2002 follow-up study of men who had vasectomies found no increase in risk for heart disease, stroke, or peripheral artery disease, even after more than 20 years.Nor did researchers find any evidence of greater risk for hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) or inflammation, which is increasingly thought to play a role in cardiovascular disease.

Click the icon to see an image of atherosclerosis.

text continues below

This study supports two earlier major studies that found no significant risk to a man''s overall health. In fact, both studies found that men who had vasectomies actually experienced a slightly lower risk for coronary artery disease, and one study also found lower risks for stroke, high blood pressure, and chest pain. One of the studies even found that men who had vasectomies had a longer lifespan than those without the procedure. (In both studies, however, these benefits were not considered statistically significant.)

Kidney Stones

Studies are indicating that men younger than their mid-forties who have vasectomies have twice the risk for kidney stones as their peers who have not had vasectomies. The increased risk persists for up to 14 years after the operation. Kidney stones are not life threatening but they can be extremely painful, and just to be on the safe side, men who have had vasectomies should drink plenty of fluids to help prevent them.

Click the icon to see an image of kidney stones.

Osteoporosis

There has been some concern that vasectomies increase the risk for osteoporosis in men. One study, however, found no higher incidence of bone loss in vasectomized men.