A new study from the Harvard Medical School reports that men who have a vasectomy stand a 10 percent greater chance of developing prostate cancer.

It also said they have a higher risk of contracting aggressive prostate cancer, the most serious form of the disease.

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The Harvard research involved 50,000 men, and was the largest study that examined the link between vasectomies and cancer. It studied the men, aged between 40 and 75, from 1986 to 2010.

During these 24 years, 25 per cent of men had vasectomies and 6,023 cases of prostate cancer were diagnosed. Less than two percent developed the most aggressive form of the disease, the research found.

For the small number of men that went on to develop prostate cancer, a larger number developed the disease's aggressive form.

The dangers of developing prostate cancer seemed to be highest among men who had their vasectomies at a younger age. Researchers said the chance of developing the aggressive form of prostate cancer was higher among those who had a vasectomy before the age of 38.

Researchers said it wasn't clear why a vasectomy would affect the incidence of prostate cancer. A probable explanation is that a vasectomy could relate to changes in the proteins in semen.

Prostate cancer is a cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Worldwide, it is the second most common cause of cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer-related death in men.

Studies show that one in eight men will develop prostate cancer. Most cases occur after the age of 65.

Researchers, however, said many men with prostate cancer will suffer no harm from the disease. Many prostate cancer cases can be safely followed through active surveillance and watchful waiting.

Treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy can have serious side effects such as erectile dysfunction.

The research findings were published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Some previous studies had suggested a connection between sterilization and cancer.

Tagsvasectomy, men, prostate cancer, risk