A study conducted by a group of Australian researchers stresses that men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation.
According to them, by ejaculating semen regularly, the building up of carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals) within the prostate gland may be prevented. Thus, reduces the risk of obtaining prostate cancer.
Nevertheless, they added that sexual intercourse may not have the equal protective effect because of the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI), which could increase men’s cancer risk.
During the conduct of the study, the researchers asked over 1,000 men who had prostate cancer and 1,250 who had not about their sexual habits. After critical analyzing, they found out that those who had ejaculated the most between 20 to 50 years old were the least likely to develop the cancer. The protective effect was greatest while the men were in their 20s. Men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer later in life.
An earlier research has proposed that a high number of sexual partners or a high level of sexual activity increased a man’s risk of developing prostate cancer by 40%. Yet, the Australian researchers who carried out this study suggest the early work missed the protective effect of ejaculation for it is highly focused on sexual intercourse, with its associated risk of STIs.
“Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have been an even stronger protective effect of ejaculations.” Graham Giles, leader of the Australian research team from the Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne, told New Scientist (a weekly international science magazine and website covering recent developments in science and technology).
The researchers suggest that ejaculating may prevent carcinogens from accumulating within the prostate gland in such a manner that it makes the gland become busy performing its function as the one secreting fluids for the activation of sperms. The fluid has great concentrations of potassium, zinc, fructose and citric acid, which are drawn from the bloodstream. However, animal studies have shown carcinogens such as 3-methylchloranthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also concentrated in the prostate.
“Fewer ejaculations may mean the carcinogens build up.” Giles stated. “It’s a prostatic stagnation hypothesis. The more you flush the ducts out, the less there is to hang around and damage the cells that line them.”
New Scientist reports that a similar connection has been found between breast cancer and breastfeeding. According to them, lactating appeared to “flush out” carcinogens, lessening a woman’s risk of the disease.
Another theory presented by the researchers is that ejaculation may induce prostate glands to mature fully, making them less susceptible to carcinogens.
“This is a plausible theory.” Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the United Kingdom’s Prostate Cancer Charity, told BBC News Online. “In the same way the human papilloma virus has been linked to cervical cancer, there is a suggestion that bits of prostate cancer may be related to a sexually transmitted infection earlier in life.”
Anthony Smith, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne, said the research could affect the kind of lifestyle advice doctors give to patients.
“Masturbation is part of people’s sexual repertoire.” he said. “If these findings hold up, then it’s perfectly reasonable that men should be encouraged to masturbate.”
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