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Is Any Kind Of Sex Protective Against Prostate Cancer?

by — Last updated: 2015-07-23 in Men's Health

Table of Contents

New data confirm an observation from several years ago that men who ejaculate more often are less likely to develop prostate cancer. The optimal frequency for sex to completion seems to be 21 times a month.

The studies of ejaculation and prostate cancer find that "ejaculation" is the appropriate measurement of protection against cancer. The studies do not distinguish heterosexual intercourse, homosexual intercourse, variations in intercourse, or masturbation. It seems to be emptying semen out of the prostate that confers the beneficial effect (although in the Japanese study, masturbation was not found to be related to prostate health).

There are a number of factors that don't seem to have an effect on prostate health.

  • Using condoms doesn't effect cancer rates.
  • The female partner's choice of contraception does not affect cancer rates.
  • Nocturnal emissions ("wet dreams") don't seem to count, although that could be because sexually active men have fewer nocturnal emissions.
  • Sexually transmitted diseases in female partners do not affect a man's risk of prostate cancer, although certain bacterial infections in either female or male partners can trigger prostate infections.

What About Masturbation?

The reality is, at least in the Western world, masturbation is a very common practice. A survey in Australia found that 95 percent of men and 89 percent of women do it. Younger men tend to masturbate more often than older men. It is common for men past puberty and under 30 to masturbate five or more times a week, and it is not unusual for men to masturbate multiple times a day.  

Why should masturbation make a difference?

The prostate can be thought of as a mixing and holding vessel. It receives live sperm from the testes, and mixes them with a high-sugar source of nourishment in the form of semen. The sperm can live on the fructose sugars provided in the semen as they travel across the cervix to the fallopian tubes to reach and fertilize the egg. 

Semen is secreted from vesicles that also release carbohydrates that make it sticky so the sperm travel for up to a day or so to reach the egg. These carbohydrates can trap toxic, carcinogenic chemicals that cause genetic damage in the lining of the prostate, but only if they stay in contact with the lining of the gland for too long.

Vigorous release of semen causes these secretions to flow out of their tiny holding containers, the vesicles, into the fluid and out with ejaculation. Sexual intercourse with a vigorous climax "detoxifies" the prostate so cancer-causing compounds are less likely to build up.

Which Men Benefit The Most From Frequent Sexual Release?

The benefits of frequent emissions seem to be greater in men who smoke. Ejaculation carries away carcinogens from tobacco smoke from the lining of the prostate, although it would not have a similar benefit for other organs. Some studies have looked at the possibility that frequent ejaculation would also remove toxic heavy metals, although studies have been inconclusive.

READ Enlarged prostate: Prostate Laser Surgery

Sex is healthy for older men. In addition to "detoxifying," it also seems to stimulate the release of growth hormone. Men who have more sex and who keep having sex have less cancer, have better muscle tone, and probably more reasons to live as they get older. A healthy sex life doesn't just make life more worthwhile, it also extends life and protects against disease.