Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: DocN on 21/04/2006 21:51:20

Title: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: DocN on 21/04/2006 21:51:20

Seems that "man that masturbate could reduce their chance of developing prostate cancer".  see--

http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/jul/17mas.htm

Interesting hypothesis.

Doc

Title: Re: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: another_someone on 21/04/2006 22:19:38

I remember hearing about it some time ago (I note that the web page is dated 2003).  I was not convinced by the arguments then, and I'm not convinced by it now.

I am not doubting that they found a correlation; but like so many other areas of research, people are far too ready to jump from find a correlation to making wild assumptions about the nature of a causal link, if any.

Why do some men masturbate more than others?  Could it be that men who masturbate more often are less prone to prostate cancer for other reasons?  Could it be that a condition that predisposes men to prostate cancer also makes it less likely that men would masturbate as frequently?

Correlation and causality are two different things, and until we can look at all of the possible ways in which causality might occur, it would be naïve to assume simply that masturbation has a protective effect against prostate cancer.

---

George

Title: Re: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: neilep on 27/04/2006 01:42:52

I too heard this and I think it has been discussed on the site before...it is an interesting hypothesis though, and if it were found to be true then one would not hesitate to buy shares in Kleenex.



Men are the same as women, just inside out !

Title: Re: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: JimBob on 29/04/2006 18:07:26

As a test case of one, this method didn't work for me (nor did my girl friends!)

The mind is like a parachute. It works best when open.  -- A. Einstein

Title: Re: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: Hadrian on 25/05/2006 15:45:17

Groups seek to remove taboo on self-lovin'Monday, May 22, 2006


May is ripe with enjoyable holidays, from May Day to Mother’s Day, Cinco de Mayo to Memorial Day. But many people don’t know that May is also National Masturbation Month. Started in 1995 by San Francisco’s famous sex shop Good Vibrations, Masturbation Month aims to celebrate the joys and dispel the myths surrounding sexual self-love.

While many campus groups — including Stanford Students for Choice, Queer Women and the SHPRC — have hosted events supporting National Masturbation Month, its history and purpose are not widely understood on campus and its success questioned by many at Stanford.

Masturbation Month’s goal is primarily to promote comprehensive sex education and dialogue about sex. Good Vibrations created the holiday in 1995 when former U.S. President Bill Clinton fired then-Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders for suggesting that masturbation be included in national sex education.
read more: http://www.stanforddaily.com/tempo?page=content&repository=0001_article&id=20589



What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say.

Title: Re: Does masturbation alter prostate cancer risk?
Post by: Profusion on 29/12/2009 15:32:56

I recently read in the Pharmaceutical Journal that frequent ejaculations could reduce the risk of prostate cancer, but further research was required.  However it was the ejaculation which was significant regardless of whether this was achieved via masturbation or sex with a partner.