Is Sex Good Or Bad? (For your Prostate)

This is a question I'm asked so often that I thought it might be
useful to share the question and my answer with you. As the year
is coming to a close, let me take this opportunity to wish you a
happy healthy and prosperous New Year with as much good sex as
you want.

I wish you good health,

Ben

Hi Ben i am 60 years of age and stll feeling horny give God
thanks, How often should a man have sex for the week to keep on
the safe side and not harming the prostate by over doing it?
Cecil Plummer

Dear Cecil,
Is sex good for prostate problems? That’s a question men often
wonder about but don’t always verbalize. Sex is generally
considered to be healthy for the prostate because the more the
prostate is called into service, the more likely toxins are
cleared out through ejaculation. Thus sex may reduce the chance
of developing prostate cancer or other problems. However, there
are other studies that indicate a high level of sexual activity
may increase your risk of prostate cancer. So the question
remains: is sex good for prostate problems and if so, how much is
enough or too much?

Experts suggest that in addition to clearing toxins through
ejaculation, sex may reduce the development of tiny crystals that
are associated with some cancers and enhance the immune
system’s response to cancer. Sexual activity also reduces
stress and quiets the central nervous system, which may
contribute to cancer cell division and growth and overall
wellness.

According to a report in JAMA, men who reported having more than
20 ejaculations per month were 33% less likely to develop
prostate cancer than those who had fewer ejaculations. The study
defined sexual activity as ejaculation from sexual intercourse,
masturbation, or during sleep. The researchers evaluated nearly
30,000 health professionals, of whom 1,449 developed prostate
cancer. Assuming the men answered the survey questions honestly,
the results indicated that an active sex life is not associated
with a higher cancer risk in most men. (Leitzmann 2004)

A University of Nottingham-Medical School study addressed the
question, is sex good for prostate problems? Researchers noted
that frequent sexual activity (more than 10 encounters per month)
bestows a “small” amount of protection against prostate
cancer. (Dimitropoulou 2009) The same study also found that men
who are sexually active (more than 20 times per month) in their
20s and 30s are more likely to develop prostate cancer,
especially if they masturbate often. However, the researchers
also found that frequent sexual activity by men in their 40s does
not seem to have the same effect. (Dimitropoulou 2009) The
investigators evaluated the sexual practices of more than 431 men
who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 60, and
409 cancer-free controls. Among the men with prostate cancer, 34%
admitted they had masturbated frequently in their 20s, compared
to 24% of controls. The results were similar for men in their
30s. Men with prostate cancer also were more likely to have had
an STD than those who were cancer-free.

Sex is important for prostate health in a number of other ways.
Apart from the potential decrease in risk of prostate cancer, sex
helps to maintain erectile function and healthy penile tissue.
Lack of frequent sex can also result in penile shortening in the
absence of consistent nocturnal erections which may contribute to
self-esteem issues and erectile dysfunction.

Overall, regular safe sexual activity seems to be healthy for the
prostate, for prostatitis, and, in older men, has protective
effects against prostate cancer.  In fact, a higher frequency of
ejaculation is associated with a decreased risk of developing
prostate cancer.