It has been postulated that sexual ...

It has been postulated that sexual activity may be a risk factor for prostate cancer. For example, increased sexual activity may indirectly increase prostate cancer risk end infectious disease acquisition, or retained secretions may harbor carcinogenic materials in men with decreased sexual activity. Leitzmann and colleagues used self-reported number of ejaculations to determine prospectively if ejaculation oftenness is associated with prostate cancer risk.

Participants in the Health Professionals Follow-up close attention completed a questionnaire every sum of two units years with questions on ejaculation commonness beginning in 1992. Participants were to estimate their ejaculation oftenness at ages 20 to 29 40 to 49 and in the previous year. The study's major conclusion point was total prostate cancer incidence. The relative risk of prostate cancer was calculated after controlling for multiple other factors, similar as body mass index, smoking, and dietary habits.

A total of 1449 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer during 222426 person-years of follow-up Ejaculation commonness generally was unrelated to prostate cancer risk. However, men with the highest frequent occurrence of ejaculations had a slightly decreased risk, with each three ejaculations by week reducing lifetime total prostate cancer risk according to 15 percent. Men with the lowest ejaculation commonness at ages 40 to 49 and across their lifetimes had a lower relative risk. Although these findings were maintained if the analysis was restricted to organ-confined prostate cancer, intermediate oftenness of ejaculation at ages 40 to 49 was associated with a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer.

Having a greater commonness of ejaculations did not increase prostate cancer risk. upon the contrary, very frequent ejaculations might decrease total prostate cancer and organ-confined cancer risk. In addition, there was a decrease in prostate cancer risk in patients with the lowest ejaculation frequencies. The mechanisms mediating these findings are unknown.

CAROLINE WELLBERY, MD

Leitzmann MF et al. Ejaculation oftenness and subsequent risk of prostate cancer. JAMA April 7 2004;291:1578-86

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