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Masturbating may protect against prostate cancer (Hold Muh ... Oh Never Mind)
New Scientist ^ | July 16, 2003 | Douglas Fox

Posted on 07/16/2003 11:39:00 PM PDT by Timesink

NewScientist.com

 
 

Masturbating may protect against prostate cancer

 
19:00 16 July 03

Douglas Fox, Adelaide

 

It will make you go blind. It will make your palms grow hairy. Such myths about masturbation are largely a thing of the past. But the latest research has even better news for young men: frequent self-pleasuring could protect against the most common kind of cancer.

A team in Australia led by Graham Giles of The Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne asked 1079 men with prostate cancer to fill in a questionnaire detailing their sexual habits, and compared their responses with those of 1259 healthy men of the same age. The team concludes that the more men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they are to develop prostate cancer.

The protective effect is greatest while men are in their twenties: those who had ejaculated more than five times per week in their twenties, for instance, were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer later in life (BJU International, vol 92, p 211).

The results contradict those of previous studies, which have suggested that having had many sexual partners, or a high frequency of sexual activity, increases the risk of prostate cancer by up to 40 per cent. The key difference is that these earlier studies defined sexual activity as sexual intercourse, whereas the latest study focused on the number of ejaculations, whether or not intercourse was involved.

  The prostate produces part of the fluid that makes up semen
The prostate produces part of the fluid that makes up semen

The team speculates that infections caused by intercourse may increase the risk of prostate cancer. "Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have been an even stronger protective effect of other ejaculations," they suggest. "Men have many ways of using their prostate which do not involve women or other men," Giles adds.


Macho exaggeration

Giles accepts the possibility that the men who completed the questionnaires could have lied about their habits. But he doubts this skewed the results, since questions about masturbation are unlikely to evoke the same macho exaggeration as questions about, say, number of sexual partners.

But why should ejaculating more often cut the risk of prostate cancer? The team speculates that ejaculation prevents carcinogens building up in the gland. The prostate, together with the seminal vesicles, secretes the bulk of the fluid in semen, which is rich in substances such as potassium, zinc, fructose and citric acid.

Generating the fluid involves concentrating these components from the bloodstream up to 600-fold - and this could be where the trouble starts. Studies in dogs show that carcinogens such as 3-methylcholanthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also concentrated in prostate fluid.

"It's a prostatic stagnation hypothesis," says Giles. "The more you flush the ducts out, the less there is to hang around and damage the cells that line them."


Sexual repertoire

His findings suggest an intriguing parallel between prostate cancer and breast cancer, as recent studies indicate that lactating reduces a woman's risk of breast cancer, perhaps because this also flushes out carcinogens. Alternatively, ejaculation might induce prostate cells to mature fully, making them less susceptible to carcinogens.

"All these mechanisms are totally speculative," cautions breast cancer expert Loren Lipworth of the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, Maryland.

But if the finding is confirmed, future health advice from doctors may no longer be restricted to diet and exercise. "Masturbation is part of people's sexual repertoire," says Anthony Smith, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne.

"If these findings hold up, then it's perfectly reasonable that men should be encouraged to masturbate," he says.

 
19:00 16 July 03
 


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To: Timesink
For years, the feminists have been getting away with describing a place where healthy babies are killed as "women's health clinics". Now perhaps the local dirty books/video store can be labelled "men's health clinics".

And, by the time liberals are done with this, the Playboy Channel may be required for "basic cable".

21 posted on 07/17/2003 12:16:59 AM PDT by Tall_Texan (http://righteverytime.blogspot.com - home to Tall_Texan's new column.)
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To: Riverman94610
"I don't know why I was doing it, I just knew I had to get it done"
22 posted on 07/17/2003 12:17:10 AM PDT by Archie Bunker on steroids
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To: Timesink
bump
23 posted on 07/17/2003 12:19:15 AM PDT by LiteKeeper
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To: Timesink
Studies in dogs show that carcinogens such as 3-methylcholanthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also concentrated in prostate fluid.

It took a "study" to find out that what you consume eventually gets out of your body? And that smoking cigarettes isn't good for the taste?
24 posted on 07/17/2003 12:40:46 AM PDT by lelio
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Great news !!! I remained celibate until marriage at 34 years of age thanks in part to the palm of my hand ...
25 posted on 07/17/2003 1:06:37 AM PDT by sushiman
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To: sushiman
This thread reminds me of a letter to Playboy's advice column from a guy saying that he enjoyed masturbating with heavy-grit sandpaper and asking if he had a problem...

The answer was, "Not for long."

Where's the Kournikova pic to counter the Hitlery one??!!

26 posted on 07/17/2003 1:16:50 AM PDT by RandallFlagg ("There are worse things than crucifixion...There are teeth.")
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To: Timesink
Guess it wasn't a line when guys would say ..they needed sex to avoid sperm backup.. (yeah right...)
27 posted on 07/17/2003 1:19:23 AM PDT by Zipporah
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To: Riverman94610
Just do it until you need glasses!

Would you take immortality if it came at the cost of your eyesight?

28 posted on 07/17/2003 1:59:53 AM PDT by xm177e2 (Stalinists, Maoists, Ba'athists, Pacifists: Why are they always on the same side?)
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To: Timesink
Give these researchers a big hand!

A big hairy hand at that.

29 posted on 07/17/2003 2:00:14 AM PDT by beaversmom (Celebrating May 5th and all days with an American Flag)
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To: beaversmom
I guess I am a weirdo ...Waited until marriage to have sex ...Nobody in my own family really believe it ...Not bragging or anything ...Yes , I DID have " impure " thoughts while stroking the poker ...but I don't think God will make me burn in hell for it .
30 posted on 07/17/2003 3:31:35 AM PDT by sushiman
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
On the other, ahem, hand...


31 posted on 07/17/2003 3:48:26 AM PDT by Jaxter ("A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend upon the support of Paul."- Shaw)
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To: sushiman
The prostate, together with the seminal vesicles, secretes the bulk of the fluid in semen, which is rich in substances such as potassium, zinc, fructose and citric acid.

Almost makes it sound like a vitamin tonic...

I wonder if I can convince the little lady...

No, no.... nevermind.... what WAS I thinking???

Donning anti-flame suit*

32 posted on 07/17/2003 3:53:41 AM PDT by Ronin (Qui tacet consentit!)
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To: lelio
Sad but true, this is the excuse that I get from my Wife as to why she won't give me a B.J.
33 posted on 07/17/2003 3:53:58 AM PDT by Delmarksman (Keep the Criminals in Prison and leave my Guns alone. NNGL, No new gun laws.)
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To: sushiman
I remained celibate until marriage at 34 years of age thanks in part to the palm of my hand ...

Too much information!

34 posted on 07/17/2003 4:13:37 AM PDT by tdadams
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To: Timesink
I bet Jocylyn Elders had a hand in this report... er, I mean, nevermind.
35 posted on 07/17/2003 4:16:15 AM PDT by tdadams
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To: ETERNAL WARMING
Yes but it will make you go blind.

That is a lie. Now excuse me while I find my glasses and shave my palms.
36 posted on 07/17/2003 4:20:51 AM PDT by steve50 (I don't know about being with "us", but I'm with the Constitution)
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To: Timesink
When I was 20 I could have kept a dozen men cancer free or at least go into remission..
37 posted on 07/17/2003 4:39:08 AM PDT by DainBramage
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To: steve50
Well I have prostate cancer and have been battling it for seven years now...I disagree with this article...Hell I was a champion of the five finger stroke method for years ..If any guy SHOULDN'T have prostate cancer it's me...P.S. I'm in my sixties now and I ain't blind either!
38 posted on 07/17/2003 4:40:32 AM PDT by Old Phone Man
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To: DainBramage
huh?You "serviced" a dozen men when you were 20? ; )

Think I'd re-word that post.

39 posted on 07/17/2003 4:42:20 AM PDT by quack
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To: Old Phone Man
Sorry to hear that. Hope you fight the beast off. I'm in the early 50 age bracket where the problems seem to start myself. Not sure the prostrate can overcome the hemroids to cause a problem tho :-)
40 posted on 07/17/2003 4:48:31 AM PDT by steve50 (I don't know about being with "us", but I'm with the Constitution)
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