Recent research has identified an optimal frequency for male ejaculation per month to potentially reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer.
The American Cancer Society reports that prostate cancer will affect one in every eight men during their lifetime, and it is estimated that 36,320 men will succumb to this disease in the United States this year.
Prostate cancer diagnoses are more prevalent in men aged 65 and older, with African American men and Caribbean men of African ancestry being at higher risk.
Health professionals recommend various strategies to mitigate the likelihood of developing prostate cancer, one of which involves maintaining a specific frequency of ejaculation each month.
A 2016 study published in European Urology tracked the sexual habits of nearly 32,000 men over an 18-year period from 1992 to 2010.
The findings revealed that those who ejaculated at least 21 times per month had a 20 percent reduced risk of prostate cancer compared to those who ejaculated four to seven times monthly.
The study explained: “We evaluated whether ejaculation frequency throughout adulthood is related to prostate cancer risk in a large US-based study.
“We found that men reporting higher compared to lower ejaculatory frequency in adulthood were less likely to be subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“These findings provide additional evidence of a beneficial role of more frequent ejaculation throughout adult life in the aetiology of PCa [prostate cancer], particularly for low-risk disease.”
Dr. Anne Calvaresi, chair of the Urology Care Foundation’s Prostate Health Committee, commented: “This large prospective study provides the strongest evidence to date of a beneficial role of ejaculation in the prevention of prostate cancer.”
While the exact mechanism for this risk reduction is not fully understood, Urology Care suggests that ejaculation might help eliminate harmful chemicals that accumulate in semen.
According to the Mayo Clinic, early symptoms of prostate cancer include:
In more advanced stages of prostate cancer, different symptoms can manifest, including: