Study Links Frequent Ejaculation to Lower Risk of Low-Grade Prostate Cancer; Doctor Urges Caution

A study published in the 'European Urology Oncology' journal suggests a potential link between ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk. The research, which tracked over 30,000 men for 18 years using data from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, indicated that men who ejaculated more than 21 times per month had a 19-22% lower risk of developing low-grade prostate cancer compared to those ejaculating 4-7 times monthly.

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I heard that ejaculating more than 21 times a month can prevent prostate cancer, is that true?

However, the study's findings were specific to low-grade cancer. Urologist Huang Po-jen, who shared the information on his Facebook page, emphasized that frequent ejaculation showed no significant protective effect against high-grade or metastatic prostate cancer. He cautioned against interpreting this as a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, as the study is observational.

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This study belongs to 'observational research.' Although rigorous and large-scale, it can only show 'correlation,' not directly determine 'causation.'

Huang stressed that while the correlation is noted, the medical community has not formally incorporated changing ejaculation frequency into official recommendations for cancer prevention. He highlighted the limitations of observational studies, which can show associations but not prove causation.

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The study's focus is on 'low-risk' cancer types. If one deliberately changes ejaculation frequency solely to prevent cancer, the medical community has not yet included this in formal recommendations.

Instead, Huang recommended focusing on established preventive measures for prostate health. These include maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Crucially, he underscored the importance of regular medical check-ups, particularly for men at higher risk, such as those with a family history of prostate cancer, recommending screenings like the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) test and digital rectal exams.

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Healthy lifestyle habits, such as balanced diet, regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol, are beneficial for overall health and reducing the risk of various cancers.