Masturbation 'Cuts Cancer Risk'

As I recall, I saw a similar study last year which besides noting the beneficial aspects of frequent ejaculation also indicated that Catholic priests had an unusually high rate of prostate cancer I suppose as a result of less sexual release (I guess the priests who got prostate cancer were not the ones getting off raping altar boys). This study from Australia found that the more frequently one ejaculated, the lower the cancer rate. I suspect that the Christianist will NOT be happy with this news. But then, they never believe in science anyway. Here are some highlights from the BBC:

Men could reduce their risk of developing prostate cancer through regular masturbation, researchers suggest. They say cancer-causing chemicals could build up in the prostate if men do not ejaculate regularly.

They found those who had ejaculated the most between the ages of 20 and 50 were the least likely to develop the cancer. The protective effect was greatest while the men were in their 20s. Men who ejaculated more than five times a week were a third less likely to develop prostate cancer later in life.

Dr Giles said fewer ejaculations may mean the carcinogens build up. "It's a prostatic stagnation hypothesis. The more you flush the ducts out, the less there is to hang around and damage the cells that line them." A similar connection has been found between breast cancer and breastfeeding, where lactating appeared to "flush out" carcinogens, reduce a woman's risk of the disease, New Scientist reports.

Anthony Smith, deputy director of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University in Melbourne, said the research could affect the kind of lifestyle advice doctors give to patients. "Masturbation is part of people's sexual repertoire. "If these findings hold up, then it's perfectly reasonable that men should be encouraged to masturbate," he said.