A new study indicates that men who ejaculate more often each month may have a reduced risk of prostate cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that prostate cancer will affect one in eight men in the US and is the second leading cause of cancer death among men.
The risk is especially high for men over 65 and those of African American or Caribbean descent. Scientists have been exploring how lifestyle factors, including ejaculation frequency, might influence prostate cancer risk.
Harvard researchers followed nearly 32,000 men over an 18-year period and found that men who ejaculated at least 21 times a month had a 20% lower risk of prostate cancer than those who ejaculated 4 to 7 times monthly.
The study, published in 2016, suggested that regular ejaculation may help protect against prostate cancer, possibly by flushing out harmful chemicals from the prostate. However, some experts argue that the link might be due to healthier lifestyles among men who ejaculate more frequently.
Dr. Anne Calvaresi from the Urology Care Foundation says more studies are needed to fully understand this relationship.
