The chemicals released during orgasm may protect against diseases, like prostate and breast cancer.
Researchers affirmed what may be the first modifiable risk factor for prostate cancer: ejaculation. During the annual meeting of American Urological Association, a modifiable risk factor refers to the risks people can prevent through healthy habits. High ejaculation frequency may be associated with lower risk for prostate cancer. The present research builds upon these findings with the “high quality data” collected from nearly 32,000 men participating in the Health Professionals follow-up study; the men were followed for a total of 18 years.
At the start of the study, men aged 20 to 29 and 40 to 49 were asked to calculate the average number of times they ejaculated per month, including the number of times they ejaculated during the previous year. Researchers then used both averages to compute a lifetime average. The results showed that men who ejaculated at least 21 times a month reduced their risk compared to men who ejaculated four to seven times a month. Safe sex may improve prostate health but how exactly could ejaculation protect against cancer? The orgasm itself has protective benefits. Research shows the hormones oxytocin and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) are released during orgasm; oxytocin has the power to lower blood pressure in women, reducing their risk for cardiovascular disease, while DHEA has been linked to lower risk for breast and cervical cancer. Additionally, increased levels of DHEA have been shown to also improve memory and boost brain function. So these chemicals released during orgasm, could account for improved health.
It’s important to note frequent ejaculation was associated with incident prostate cancer, not risk for what researchers consider lethal prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer among American men. The American Cancer Society estimates there will be about 220,800 new cases in 2015, with about 27,540 deaths from prostate cancer. It can be serious, but a diagnosis isn’t a death sentence; more than 2.9 million men in the U.S. who have been diagnosed are still alive today.
Source: American Urological Association Annual Meeting. 2015
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