Study Suggests Vasectomy-Dementia Link

Study Suggests Vasectomy-Dementia Link:

Having a vasectomy may increase a man's risk of developing a rare form of dementiadementia, early research suggests, although more study is needed to confirm the finding.

Weintraub theorized that vasectomy may raise the risk of the rare dementias by breaching the protective barrier between the bloodstream and the testes.

When that barrier is broken, as occurs with vasectomy, sperm become exposed to the bloodstream. In response, many men who have had the surgery produce antisperm antibodies.

These antibodies may affect the brain, causing damage which can lead to dementia.

"...I would hope that men would not be frightened by this study, which is very preliminary," says Sharlip.

Frightened? It was one of the most terrifying events of my life, and my wife and friends just laughed at me. Well, I'll show them, I'll get dementia to spite them.

Actually, my vasectomy was pretty easy, although there was one funny thing. I'm on the cold stainless steel table, my guy taped off to my stomach to keep it out of the way, and the doc announced that he'd have a student assist and observe. Yep, you guessed it, in walks a Dr. that looks like Izzy Stevens (from Gray's Anatomy). I burst out laughing, and said "I'd like to say I'm glad to meet you, but..." and we all had a laugh. It was a funny ice-breaker.