RedMagic1
Posts: 6470
Joined: 5/10/2007 Status: offline
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This is a pet peeve of mine. The reality is that the jury is still out, but there are indications that long-term male celibacy can increase the risk of prostate cancer. Smoking is probably more dangerous cancer-wise. Here's an example: OBJECTIVE: To assess whether prostate cancer might be related to hormone levels and, by inference, to differences in sexual activity. PATIENTS, SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In a case-control study of men with prostate cancer aged < 70 years at diagnosis and age-matched control subjects, information was collected on two aspects of sexual activity; the number of sexual partners and the frequency of total ejaculations during the third to fifth decades of life. RESULTS: There was no association of prostate cancer with the number of sexual partners or with the maximum number of ejaculations in 24 h. There was a negative trend (P < 0.01) for the association between risk and number of ejaculations in the third decade, independent of those in the fourth or fifth. Men who averaged five or more ejaculations weekly in their 20s had an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.66 (0.49-0.87) compared with those who ejaculated less often. CONCLUSIONS: The null association with the number of sexual partners argues against infection as a cause of prostate cancer in this population. Ejaculatory frequency, especially in early adult life, is negatively associated with the risk of prostate cancer, and thus the molecular biological consequences of suppressed or diminished ejaculation are worthy of further research. Full citation: http://www.curehunter.com/public/pubmed12887469.do I bolded the last line. In English, it means that the young men they studied who never ejaculated had a higher rate of prostate cancer than young men who did -- so this is something that deserves further study. Short answer: nobody knows. Longer answer: it will probably elevate your risk.
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Not with envy, not with a twisted heart, shall you feel superior, or go about boasting. Rather in goodness by action make true your song and your word. Thus you shall be highly regarded, and able to live in peace with all others. - 15th century Aztec
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