Discussion of Prostate Research

Scientists have actually measured many separate factors and their relationship to prostate cancer: ejaculation, intercourse frequency, marital status, number of sex partners, and cases of sexually transmitted disease. So far, study results conflict with each other on almost every factor, and the medical profession does not consider ejaculation frequency (or infrequency) to be risk factor for prostate cancer.

However, two lines of research look promising:

1. Viral and bacterial infections appear to be the underlying cause of much prostate cancer.

   Mounting evidence suggests that prostate cancer is an infectious, sexually transmitted disease caused by a recently identified virus. Also, men with a bacterial infection were also more likely to have advanced prostate cancer, perhaps due to increased inflammation.

2. Healthy lifestyle may prove to be the best protection against prostate health.

   A recent study on prostate health suggests that holistic lifestyle changes can turn off disease-promoting genes, and activate beneficial ones. In the study, the prostate health (of patients with prostate cancer) responded dramatically to stress management techniques (participation in a weekly support group, yoga-based stretching, breathing techniques, meditation, and daily guided imagery), walking thirty minutes per day, and dietary supplements.

   After three months, researchers repeated a biopsy of normal tissue in the subjects’ prostate. They found that genes associated with cancer, heart disease, and inflammation were down-regulated or “turned off,” while protective, disease-preventing genes were “turned on.” See Dean Ornish, “Changing Your Lifestyle Can Change Your Genes." Researchers suggest that similar lifestyle changes may benefit all men, as the biopsies were of healthy tissue. Might daily affection someday prove to be one such beneficial lifestyle change?

Actual evidence about prostate health and ejaculation conflicts

On the men's sites that I frequent, the number one rationalization for masturbation is that it is good for the prostate. All you have to do is tell a guy that jerking off is good for his health and he's a lifer.

The popular press has made a lot of noise about isolated aspects of results that make good headlines. For example, in one study men who remembered ejaculating more during their twenties had lower rates of prostate cancer.1

This research is touted by the press—not the researchers—as proof that “frequent masturbation will prevent prostate cancer.” However, before you go (get?) off to improve your health, check your date of birth. The beneficial correlation was seen in one of the studies only in relation to frequent masturbation in one’s twenties.

Moreover, a newer study (2009) found the reverse correlation: Those who were most active while younger had more chance of developing cancer later2

• 1. G. G. Giles, et al., “Sexual Factors and Prostate Cancer,” BJU International, 92(3), July 2003: 211–216; see also M. D. Leitzmann, “Ejaculation Frequency and Subsequent Risk of Prostate Cancer,” JAMA, 291(13), April 2004: 1578–1586.
• 2. See also, "Frequency of Sexual Activity and Prostatic Health: Fact or Fairy Tale?" in Urology.

  It seems likely that any practice that either discourages affectionate intercourse or puts a strain on the prostate gland is unwise. Trying to stay near the edge of orgasm is risky for lots of reasons. For this reason, some tantra or Taoist practices, in which forceful breathing and muscle-contraction techniques are employed to resist orgasm could stress the prostate. (If you want to experiment with the benefits of sex without orgasm, try a gentler approach.)

  Comments of a natural health practitioner

  From a clinical standpoint i can tell you as a wholistic practitioner that there are myriad other elements playing into this topic of prostate cancer. Indeed, viruses and bacteria play into prostate health. Because stress elevates cortisol and elevated cortisol creates dysbiosis (leaky gut), the prostate is more susceptible to influxes of yeast, virus and bacterial.

  Furthermore, the prostate does not have much blood supply, thereby making drugs (antibiotics) and even herbs etc penetrate with difficulty. The key in this area is stress reduction (bonding anyone?) and gut health. With food allergies, increased estrogens in the form of xenobiotics etc making their way into the body, we are exposed to many things we weren't 20 plus years ago.

  As far as the pure physiological perspective, I go with the Eastern philosophy of energy and chi depletion. Overuse creates "heat" in the organ, which leads to stasis etc.

  I personally feel no side effects from abstaining from orgasm and in fact I feel like my prostate is much healthier because of it. Even being new to karezza and edging a number of times has not led to any personal negative side effects, whereas orgasming usually does lead me down the road to issues with the prostate.

  Too bad we can't do a karezza study but it's like vaccinations and medications versus taking herbs, homeopathics and nutrition; it's too expensive to do studies on things that can't be produced to make a profit off of. However, that doesn't stop many of us from benefiting from herbs, nutritional supplements and homeopathics.