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Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prostate-cancer/AN01825
- With Mayo Clinic urologist
Erik P. Castle, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Erik P. Castle, M.D.
Erik P. Castle, M.D.
Dr. Erik Castle is a board-certified urologist who joined the Mayo Clinic staff in Arizona in 2007.
Dr. Castle is an associate professor of urology at College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and a senior associate consultant in the Department of Urology, where he also is assistant residency coordinator.
He was an assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Tulane University in New Orleans from 2004 to 2006 after serving as a clinical instructor/fellow at Mayo Clinic in Arizona for one year.
Dr. Castle's research interests include prostate cancer, bladder cancer and kidney cancer. He is the director of the Desert Mountain Prostate Cancer Research Fund and is the principal investigator of Castle labs housed at the Samuel C. Johnson Medical Research Building at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. His basic science research is focused on novel secondary hormonal therapies of prostate cancer as well as genomics of prostate and bladder cancers.
His surgical expertise includes laparoscopic urology, robot-assisted radical prostatectomy with nerve sparing, robot-assisted radical cystectomy with neobladder, robot-assisted retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and other robotic urologic oncology procedures. He has performed many of these procedures as demonstrations internationally. He is a member of the American Association of Clinical Urologists, the American Urological Association, the Endourological Society, and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons. He is past president of the international Society of Urologic Robotic Surgery. He is also the director of the international laparoscopic nephrectomy courses throughout Mexico on behalf of the American Urologic Association.
Risk factors (2)
- Flaxseed: Does it affect risk of prostate cancer?
- Vasectomy: Does it increase my risk of prostate cancer?
Tests and diagnosis (1)
- Prostate cancer: Does PSA level affect prognosis?
Complications (1)
- Prostate cancer metastasis: Where does prostate cancer spread?
Treatments and drugs (3)
- Prostate cancer treatment: Does initial treatment preclude others later?
- Ginger for nausea: Does it work?
- Prostate cancer brachytherapy: Can I pass radiation to others?
Alternative medicine (1)
- Pomegranate juice: A cure for prostate cancer?
Prevention (1)
- Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
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Question
Frequent sex: Does it protect against prostate cancer?
Is there research to support the theory that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer?
Answer
from Erik P. Castle, M.D.
The incidence and risk of prostate cancer has been studied in many populations. These have included men who've had vasectomies and those who may or may not be sexually active. Some studies have suggested that men with a higher frequency of ejaculations may have a slightly lower risk of prostate cancer. However, this difference appears to be very small and is very difficult to accurately study.
At this time, there is no conclusive evidence that frequent ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
Next questionFlaxseed: Does it affect risk of prostate cancer?
- Patel AR, et al. Risk factors for prostate cancer. Nature Clinical Practice Urology. 2009;6:87.
- Dimitropoulou P, et al. Sexual activity and prostate cancer risk in men diagnosed at a younger age. British Journal of Urology International. 2008;103:178.
- Sartor AO, et al. Risk factors for prostate cancer. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed June 1, 2012.
- Leitzmann MF, et al. Ejaculation frequency and subsequent risk of prostate cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2004;291:1578.
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