Frequent sexual activity may reduce a man’s risk of prostate cancer, according to a study in the April 7 Journal of the American Medical Association.

The cancer risk in men who said they hade more than 20 monthly experiences  was 33 times less than that of other men, the Harvard University study explained. High levels of testosterone have been tied to both a high sex drive and prostate cancer, which had led scientists to conceive a link between cancer and sexual activity.

More research may help determine how ejaculation might be protecting some men from prostate cancer, the investigators said. The results should not be used to encourage more sexual activity, defined as ejaculation from intercourse, masturbation or during sleep, they said.

“Men worry that by being very active, they may put themselves at more risk,” said Michael F. Leitzmann, the lead researcher now at the National Cancer Institute. “Looking at the data in a little bit more detail, our findings suggest that ejaculation may even be associated with a minor decrease in prostate cancer risk.”

Researchers surveyed almost 30,000 health professionals, 1,449 of whom developed prostate cancer, and found an active sex life wasn’t linked to a higher cancer risk in most men.

There are several ways in which frequent ejaculations may protect against prostate cancer, the researchers said. The activity may flush out a buildup of toxins in the prostate, lessen development of tiny crystals linked to some cancers, and improve the immune system’s response to cancer, Leitzmann said.

Tags: Health //