Men Who Have Undergone Vasectomy are Healthier Than Non-sterilized Fertile Men: An Analysis of the Nation Survey for Family Growth.

Objective: To evaluate the health status of men who have undergone vasectomy versus nonsterilized fertile men.
Methods: Using the National Survey for Family Growth from 2002 to 2017, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed on demographic and health data, including health status and health care utilization.
Results: Men who have undergone vasectomy are more likely to be older, healthier, have more children, identify as non-Hispanic white, be married, have a higher level of education, earn a higher mean household income, and were more likely to be privately insured than non-sterilized fertile men. On multivariate analysis, men who underwent vasectomy had a better health status despite being older.
Conclusion: There are significant socioeconomic and health differences between men who elect vasectomy and non-sterilized fertile men. These differences should be considered when considering using sterilized men as a proxy for proven fertile men in epidemiological studies.
(Published by Elsevier Inc.)