We need to talk about vasectomy drawbacks | Letters

In your article (Scare stories give vasectomies the snip, 22 October), Genevieve Edwards’ comment that “there is no snipping at all” showed alarming ignorance of the procedure: how does she think the vasa are cut if there is no snipping? My own NHS vasectomy in 2011 was done with medical scissors that made a distinctive snipping sound that I heard in my mind for long afterwards.

Experience of vasectomies clearly varies, but in my case the bruising was serious and the discomfort lasted for weeks. And the operation did affect my sex life: my orgasms were less intense and accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation of constriction. I was given counselling before the operation, and blame no one else for my decision to go ahead. But that decision was informed by a public discussion of vasectomy that is far too glib, precisely because it is described as a minor, uncomplicated procedure. Having experienced it myself, I do not believe vasectomy should be permitted as a routine procedure, much less encouraged. I had my operation reversed, at great expense, because my circumstances changed and I wanted another child, but the difficulty of reversal is another major drawback. It is entirely unhelpful to cast this debate in terms of men seeking ways to elude responsibility for our own fertility. If a male implant was available, I would have one inserted; if a male pill had been developed, I would take it. But neither is an option, and unfortunately, nor should vasectomy be.
Name and address supplied

• I had my vasectomy 26 years ago. The worst part was the pre-op examination by a chain-smoking, Donald Wolfit look-alike doctor whose disappointment at his current status was savagely visited on his patients’ scrota. Within six hours of the operation itself I was pain-free in the pub, boasting about my manly achievement to anyone who’d listen. Subsequently, anxiety-free sex with no side-effects. I recommend it.
Paul Clements
Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan

• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com

We need to talk about vasectomy drawbacks | Letters

Men – don"t be squeamish, have the balls to have a vasectomy | Mark Rice-Oxley

Vasectomies can go wrong. But then so can crossing the road and eating cashew nuts. It’s a small thing, gents, let’s face it, a very small thing.
Mine took place in 2008. Yes, I had to wear two pairs of tight pants for a few days, and refused to stand in the wall at free-kicks for weeks. Yes, I took a couple of days off work and sat on the sofa watching movies and eating painkillers. But other than that, it was a rather unremarkable experience.

I’d like to be able to report that my surgeon had a twinkle of irony in his eye as he said: “You may feel a little prick.” But he didn’t. He was a humourless fellow. I didn’t mind. A sense of humour is not important in a man who is soldering your vas deferens shut with a red-hot implement (actually the smell of burning is the least pleasant part of it all).
And what are the alternatives? I was never comfortable with my partner taking the pill year after year. Condoms are a drag. Other options seemed rather medieval by comparison. I’m not really one for airing details of my sex life in public, but I think it’s fair to report that things have been quite satisfactory ever since. You just don’t notice the difference. You still ejaculate, it’s still messy. There are so very many worse things that can happen to a man.

There may be good reasons to not opt for the snip. They’re pretty hard to reverse, apparently, even more fiddly than pushing out an elastic drawstring that has been pulled round the back of a pair of tracksuit bottoms. So if there is any notion lurking in the back of your mind that your fathering days might not be over, then think twice. With three kids under five, I knew my procreational phase had to come to an end. I just wanted someone to make it stop.

Vasectomy is not totally infallible, but that’s no reason to procrastinate. It’s still better than any other birth control method – your chances of a surprise are less than 1%.

It’s not clear to me what aspect of having one’s testicles singed has become less appealing to men. Numbers have apparently fallen by two-thirds in a decade. Perhaps it’s a sociological thing. People are having children much later than they used to a couple of generations ago. Millennials who don’t have homes and jobs are eschewing children – and so are hardly likely to opt for the snip before they’ve even started. There are more cases of men having second families than there were 30 years ago, though I’m not sure about cause and effect here.

I’d like to think it’s not because we’ve suddenly become squeamish about this. Because, honestly, there’s nothing to be squeamish about. Trips to the dentist will cause you more discomfort than this. My tonsillectomy was far worse. Now that hurt.

Go on, men, grow a pair, and then have them surgically disconnected.

Men – don"t be squeamish, have the balls to have a vasectomy | Mark Rice-Oxley

Vasectomy raises chance of lethal prostate cancer, research shows

Prostate cancer cells. Photograph: Getty Images

Males who have a vasectomy have a higher chance of building the most aggressive form of prostate cancer, a examine has discovered.

Harvard scientists analysed the health care information of nearly 50,000 guys and located that individuals who had the operation were 10% more most likely to be diagnosed with the illness.

The examine exposed a more powerful website link with the most significant types of prostate cancer, with charges of advanced or lethal illness growing by 20% in guys who had the process. The danger appeared to be highest amongst men who had a vasectomy ahead of the age of 38.

Cancer charities said the study was “really important” and urged physicians to go over cancer danger with men who have been taking into consideration sterilisation.

The most hazardous types of prostate cancer are unusual. In excess of the 24-12 months research, one.six% of men developed lethal prostate cancer. A twenty% enhance would raise that figure to much less than two%.

Kathy Wilson, a co-writer on the examine at Harvard College of Public Overall health, explained it was unclear how a vasectomy might raise the threat of prostate cancer, but one likelihood was that the operation changed the protein composition of seminal fluid produced in the prostate. “The underlying mechanisms actually aren’t known, although, and will need more clinical and experimental scientific studies,” she mentioned.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in guys in the United kingdom. Far more than 40,000 men a year are diagnosed with the disease. In 2011, practically 11,000 males died from prostate cancer in Britain.

The Harvard group analysed the healthcare information of 49,405 males for up to 24 years, from 1986 to 2010. Throughout that time, six,023 men had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 811 men died from the condition. A single in four who took component in the review had a vasectomy.

Getting a vasectomy had no reputable impact on the probabilities of developing reduced-grade prostate cancer, but guys who had the procedure had a 19% better threat of lethal prostate cancer and have been twenty% more most likely to be diagnosed with superior illness than other males.

During the review, reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, sixteen in each and every one,000 males designed lethal prostate cancer. A 20% boost due to vasectomy could increase that amount to around 19 in every 1,000.

The research goes a lengthy way to ruling out biases that have undermined previous scientific studies, this kind of as the tendency for men who have had vasectomies to have more healthcare checkups.

Malcolm Mason, of Cancer Study United kingdom, explained: “This is an very important examine, the largest one particular of its sort searching at the website link among vasectomies and prostate cancer. Importantly, the added threat of building prostate cancer soon after possessing a vasectomy appears to be small but of the handful of that do go on to create the disease, a higher quantity will build an aggressive type.

“Vasectomy is still an essential option for contraception, but this details ought to kind element of the discussion ahead of a guy tends to make an informed selection as to whether or not or not it is correct for him. Long term investigation must seem at a combined analysis of this review with other people of a related nature – and if these findings are confirmed, much more investigation will be necessary to perform out why vasectomy would seem to have this impact on prostate cancer risk.”

Vasectomy raises chance of lethal prostate cancer, research shows

Vasectomy can increase chance of establishing lethal prostate cancer

Last night charities stated the study was “extremely important”. Spokesmen suggested that males needed to be advised a lot more about the risks of vasectomies.

Prostate cancer is the most typical kind of cancer in guys, affecting 40,000 a year in Britain and causing ten,000 deaths.

A single in eight males will produce the condition, with most situations taking place following the age of 65.

The vast majority of circumstances are “slow growing” and medical advice frequently advises maintaining the disease below surveillance.

Several men with the cancer will suffer no harm from it, even though therapy options, like surgical procedure and radiotherapy, can have severe side results, this kind of as erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Researchers at Harvard Health care School tracked 50,000 guys, aged in between forty and 75, from 1986 to 2010.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, discovered throughout these 24 years that 25 per cent of males had vasectomies and 6,023 circumstances of prostate cancer were diagnosed.

In complete, less than two per cent produced the most aggressive kind of the disease, the investigation discovered. Some prior studies had recommended a connection in between sterilisation and cancer.

This new research is the initial to remove “bias factors”, this kind of as that men who have a vasectomy are a lot more regularly diagnosed simply because they are far more very likely to have typical checks.

Prof Malcolm Mason, Cancer Analysis UK’s prostate cancer specialist, said: “The extra chance of creating prostate cancer following getting a vasectomy seems to be tiny but of the couple of that do go on to build the condition, a larger variety will build an aggressive type.

“Vasectomy is nevertheless an critical selection for contraception but this information must kind portion of the discussion before a man helps make an informed determination as to no matter whether or not it is right for him.”

About a single in six males in Britain has a vasectomy. Authorities mentioned it was not clear why the process would influence cancer incidence but it could relate to modifications in the proteins in semen.

Lorelei Mucci, the research writer and associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard College of Public Health, mentioned the findings recommended improved risks among people who had a vasectomy prior to the age of 38.

She mentioned: “We saw that in males who had a vasectomy earlier in existence there was a greater risk of creating sophisticated or lethal kinds of the condition.

“This could be because of the timings and the affect on the prostate.”

Though the relative improve in dangers linked with a vasectomy was substantial the absolute danger remained little, researchers explained.

Cancer charities said the enhanced risk in aggressive circumstances, though large in relative terms, did not translate to a large total number of instances.

Dr Iain Frame, of Prostate Cancer United kingdom mentioned: “We require to be cautious about how the final results are interpreted. Even though there seems to be an increase in aggressive prostate cancer in guys who have had a vasectomy, it translates as a fairly modest boost in the variety who build aggressive prostate cancer.”

Vasectomy can increase chance of establishing lethal prostate cancer

Vasectomy can enhance risk of building lethal prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most typical cancer in guys, affecting forty,000 a year in the Uk and causing ten,000 deaths. One in eight males will build the disease inside of their lifetime, with the huge bulk of circumstances occurring soon after the age of 65.

The bulk of circumstances are “slow growing” and health care advice typically advises maintaining the ailment underneath surveillance.

Many males who suffer from the cancer will suffer no harm from it, even though therapy alternatives, including surgery and radiotherapy, can have critical side results, such as erectile dysfunction and incontinence.

Researchers at Harvard Healthcare School tracked 50,000 males, who were aged amongst 40 and 75 and the commence of analysis, in excess of a 24 yr time period from 1986 to 2010.

The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, located during this time that 25 per cent of men had vasectomies and six,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed.

In complete, fewer than two per cent developed the most aggressive type of the illness, the study located.

Some previous scientific studies had suggested a connection amongst sterilisation and cancer, but the new review is the 1st to remove “bias factors”, such as that males who have a vasectomy are much more frequently diagnosed since they are far more probably to have standard checks.

Professor Malcolm Mason, Cancer Investigation UK’s prostate cancer professional, mentioned : “This is an really essential study, the largest one particular of its kind seeking at the website link among vasectomies and prostate cancer.

“Importantly, the further threat of establishing prostate cancer following getting a vasectomy seems to be little but of the few that do go on to create the condition, a higher number will build an aggressive form.

“Vasectomy is still an important choice for contraception, but this data must type portion of the discussion just before a guy tends to make an informed decision as to whether or not it is correct for him.

Close to a single in six males in Britain decide to have vasectomies. Authorities mentioned it was not clear why the method would have an effect on cancer incidence, but stated it was achievable that it relates to odds in proteins in semen right after a vasectomy.

Analysis author Lorelei Mucci, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Wellness mentioned the findings recommended increased risks amid these who had the method ahead of the age of 38.

She mentioned: “We noticed that in males who had a vasectomy earlier in lifestyle there was a greater risk of developing advanced or lethal varieties of the disease. This may be because of the timings and the influence on the prostate, anything may possibly be occurring in earlier lifestyle that can boost this danger when alterations are made.”

Despite the fact that the relative increase in the threat linked with vasectomy was significant, because the most aggressive kind of prostate cancer is least widespread, the absolute chance remained little, researchers explained.

Cancer charities mentioned that the improved threat in aggressive situations, although higher in relative terms, did not translate to a large complete amount of instances.

Dr Iain Frame, Director of Investigation at Prostate Cancer Uk stated: “We want to be cautious about how the outcomes are interpreted despite the fact that there seems to be an increase in aggressive prostate cancer in males who have previously had a vasectomy, it translates as a fairly modest enhance in the number of males who really create aggressive prostate cancer.”

Vasectomy can enhance risk of building lethal prostate cancer

Guy mistakenly given vasectomy instead of minor process

Medics have experimented with to reverse the error but it is not recognized whether the reversal was effective. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

A man has been mistakenly given a vasectomy by medics who had been supposed to be doing a minor process on him, a hospital has admitted.

The patient, who has not been named, went to the Royal Liverpool hospital for a minor urological operation but was wrongly made sterile by a surgeon.

Medics tried to reverse the error but it is not acknowledged regardless of whether the reversal was productive.

Health bosses at the Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Believe in stated they have apologised unreservedly to the patient.

They mentioned an inner investigation into the incident has been launched and the responsible surgeon has been suspended from carrying out operations pending the result.

An operation performed on the wrong physique part is classed as a “in no way occasion” by well being officials. The incidents are regarded by the government as so critical they need to in no way come about. Between April and September final 12 months there have been 148 such incidents recorded by NHS England.

A vasectomy is a minor operation, exactly where the tubes that carry sperm from a man’s testicles to the penis are cut, blocked or sealed. It is attainable for a vasectomy to be reversed but the achievement fee is about fifty five%.

NHS guidance states: “Even if a surgeon manages to join up the vas deferens tubes once again, pregnancy may nonetheless not be possible. This is why you should be certain just before going ahead with the vasectomy.”

The health care director of the Trust, Dr Peter Williams, stated: “We can verify that a patient who was scheduled to have different minor urological method was wrongly provided a vasectomy. We drastically regret the distress that this has brought on him. We have apologised unreservedly to the patient and we are offering him our full assistance.

“It is our duty, in the ideal interests of the patient, to uphold their confidentiality, for that reason we can’t provide any additional detail without their agreement.

“This is a critical incident and we are investigating this entirely to recognize why it occurred and how we can make certain it does not happen again. We consider any incident such as this really significantly and report them at the highest level in the Believe in and to our regulators.

“Because this incident, the surgeon has not been carrying out any operations, pending the findings of the investigation. In addition we are carrying out program checks on compliance with the WHO [World Health Organisation] checklist and our surgical teams are compliant.”

Guy mistakenly given vasectomy instead of minor process

Man undergoing minor surgical treatment given vasectomy by blunder

The believe in say this is only their 2nd “in no way event” – a health-related blunder that must never occur – since 2011. The other incident involved a patient who had the wrong teeth eliminated.

Dr Peter Williams, the health care director, stated: “We can verify a patient who was scheduled to have a distinct small urological method was wrongly offered a vasectomy.

“We have apologised unreservedly to the patient and we are giving him our complete help. We tremendously regret the distress this has brought on him.

“It is our duty, in the best interests of the patient to uphold their confidentiality, for that reason we are not able to offer any further detail without having their agreement.

“This is a severe incident and we are investigating this totally to realize why it occurred and how we can guarantee it does not happen once more.”

A vasectomy is a surgical procedure in which the tubes that carry sperm from a man’s testicles to the penis are lower, blocked or sealed.

In most cases, it is much more than 99% successful and although it can be reversed, NHS England figures present that the good results fee is only around 55%.

Ian Cohen, clinical negligence attorney at Slater &amp Gordon, explained the error could value the believe in a six-figure sum.

He explained: “This is a genuinely shocking and worrying case. From what we know there has been a catastrophic breakdown in process, as straightforward checks developed to guarantee the proper operation is carried out on the right patient look to have failed.

“In a worst-case situation – sterility in a younger guy with no kids – the trust may be liable for a figure in extra of £100,000 in compensation.”

Hospital bosses admitted the error throughout a Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust board meeting.

Chief executive Aidan Kehoe stated it appeared the Planet Health Organisation (WHO) surgical security checklist had not been followed when the operation occurred in February.

Hospital Chairman Judith Greensmith asked for assurances more than the use of the checklist, which has also been raised by England’s well being watchdog, the Care Top quality Commission.

The GP-led Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group board, which monitors patient security incidents, explained the situation involved “wrong site surgical treatment”.

Dr Williams stated: “We take any incident such as this extremely critically and report them at the highest level in the trust and to our regulators …

“We care for around 90,000 inpatient and day-situation individuals a 12 months and carry out over 25,000 surgical procedures. Since 2011 we have had one other never ever event.”

Union bosses have claimed that staffing cuts and elevated stress on their members could be partly to blame for the error.

Louise Ellman, Liverpool Riverside MP, stated: “Obviously this is a matter of great concern for the individual concerned.

“This need to be followed up by the hospital and action taken to make sure it doesn’t come about once more.”

Hospitals are now required to publish a quarterly checklist detailing their never events so that performances amongst distinct hospitals can be in contrast.

In the 12 months till September final 12 months there have been 299 never ever events in NHS hospitals across the country, such as operations on the wrong side of the physique and health-related instruments left within a patient following the process.

Man undergoing minor surgical treatment given vasectomy by blunder