The effect of vasectomy on serum lipids
Nikkanen, V.; Lehtonen, A.
Andrologia 21(2): 174-177
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0303-4569 PMID: 2712372 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1989.tb02391.xDocument Number: 367024
Animal studies have found a link between vasectomy and atherosclerosis, presumably as a result of immunologically mediated damage to the arterial walls. To investigate further this association, the effects of vasectomy on serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids were studied in a sample of 14 health Finnish men 28-56 years of age. Serum samples were collected 6-8 weeks before, 1 week after, 3 months after, and 1 year after vasectomy. Serum cholesterol concentrations decreased by 10% from prevasectomy levels in the 12 months after vasectomy. There were no significant changes in high density lipoprotein (HDL)- cholesterol, but mean serum low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol decreased by 16% in the 1-year follow-up period. In 12 of the 14 subjects, LDL-cholesterol concentrations were lower 1 year after vasectomy than before the procedure. The ratio of HDL-cholesterol to LDL-cholesterol increased by 22% during the follow-up period. Serum triglyceride levels rose slightly after vasectomy and this increase attained statistical significance at 1 week. Finally, serum free fatty acid levels were significantly lowered after vasectomy in all 14 subjects. Since the strongest risk factors for coronary heart disease are raised serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, the findings of this study provide no support for the hypothesis that vasectomy increases the rate of atherosclerosis.