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Masturbation can be good for the over-50s

Removal of toxins built up over a lifetime reduces the risk of prostate cancer

By Jeremy Laurance, Health Editor

Masturbation may be good for you – or bad, depending on your age. The solitary sexual activity that is widely practised but little discussed, is linked with an increased risk of prostate cancer when practised frequently by young men in their twenties and thirties, doctors say.

But by the time men reach their fifties, it may protect against the disease because it helps remove toxins that have built up over a lifetime.

Prostate cancer is known to be driven by the male hormone testosterone, and men with high levels of testosterone tend to have a higher sex drive and a higher risk of the cancer.

But most research has examined older men because prostate cancer is unusual under 50. Researchers at the University of Nottingham studied the link between sexual activity in younger men and the disease to see if it affected their long-term risk. More than 400 men with prostate cancer diagnosed before the age of 60 were questioned about their sexual habits over the preceding decades and the results compared with 400 controls.

The findings showed that those who had been most sexually active in their twenties – having sexual intercourse or masturbating more than 20 times a month – were more likely to have the cancer. Frequent masturbation, but not sexual intercourse, in the twenties and thirties was significantly linked with the later development of prostate cancer.

In their 50s men who were most sexually active (more than 10 times a month for sexual intercourse and masturbation combined) enjoyed a small protective effect. The effect was greater when masturbation was assessed on its own.

Polyxeni Dimitripolou, who led the study published in the British Journal of Urology International, said: "It seems as if keeping up a certain level of sexual activity through the decades is better than having a high level early [in the 20s and 30s] and then nothing."

"One theory is that during the early years the prostate gland is more susceptible to hormonal changes and is still developing. As men age and accumulate toxins from the diet or through their lungs , sexual activity may help release them. Studies have found toxins in the semen and the fluid produced in the prostate. As you age it is more important to flush them out."

However, she admitted that there was no good explanation of why masturbation should have a greater impact on prostate cancer, either by increasing or reducing the risk, than sexual intercourse.

"For our sample there was no association with intercourse – all the effect was coming from masturbation. But it may have to do with our group of men. With a different group there could be different findings."

She added: "What makes our study stand out from previous research is that we focused on a younger age group than normal and included both intercourse and masturbation at various stages in people's lives."

"A possible explanation for the protective effect that men in their fifties appear to receive from overall sexual activity, and particularly masturbation, is that the release of accumulated toxins during sexual activity reduces the risk of developing cancer in the prostate area. This theory has, however, not been firmly established and further research is necessary."

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good news
[info]ineugene wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 03:57 am (UTC)
It's nice to know I have a healthy life style
yeah
[info]revdrbillybob wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 04:58 am (UTC)
yeah ... "more research is necessary". Guess we'd better "launch a probe," huh ?
Masturbation can be good for the over-50s
[info]rico331 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 06:41 am (UTC)
I'm a sixty one year old man. I've had sex every day of my life, since my mid teens. When not able to have sex with a partner I would happily masturbate.
I was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate at age fifty nine, after a routine medical check. I was suffering no symptoms of prastate cancer whatsoever. I've since had to undergo surgery to have my prostate removed as this was the only option. Based on the above theory, I don't believe that masturbation can be good for the over-50s and people should not be given the, possibly false, hope that it reduces the risk of developing cancer in the prostate area.
Re: Masturbation can be good for the over-50s
[info]jenny75 wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 07:44 pm (UTC)
what about the increased risk later from frequent sexual activity or masturbation in the 20s? that was in the 1st paragraph. You should read better. You said yourself you had activity since mid-teens, that is exactly the 1st finding. But even so, if something happens to you it does not mean it will happen to everybody else. Your cancer could even be because of other things, not your sexual activity, you do not know that.
Get a grip
[info]jack_dawes wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 07:19 am (UTC)
Hopefully those who are prone to prostate cancer will be able to rise to the occasion, take the matter in hand and get a grip of themselves.
Two types of people
[info]proximaking wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 07:32 am (UTC)
There are two types of people on this earth wankers and liars.
Re: Two types of people
[info]kuma2000 wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 12:30 am (UTC)
So which group are you going to put Tony Blair into?
and dont forget..
[info]tommytcg wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 08:02 am (UTC)
while having fun, to also keep up with the real science. That involves studying and following The Cure and Prevention of All Cancers, 2007, H R Clark, PhD ND. This 668 page work shows the identified causes and pathways of all cancers. No, you may not have heard of it, but keep in mind that mainstream medicine took 400 years to accept the natural cure for scurvy, that was Vitamin C. Back to the poor little prostate. You will learn that two identified substances, acetic acid, as in vinegar, and a plant phenol naringenin, found in tangerines and some citrus, inflame the prostate. When an organ is inflamed, it allows easy entry, drawn in by nickel, for the cancer nucleus and cancer complex. Those are the tumorogenesis requirements. You will also learn of the chemicals that inflame and degrade 3 organs that make up the base of the cancer nucleus; and understand how the cancer complex is formed. I have no financial interest in Dr Clark`s work but have successfully used her ealier protocols since the mid nineties. Snake oil, false hope, junk science, urban myth and other oncologists taunts now ring hollow. As the first poster confirms, taking the matter in hand, or having sex has little to do with protate cancer. In the absence of sex or masturbation, the seminal fluid produced by the prostate is re-absorbed. Admittedly, urination becomes more difficult for the elderly, when the prostate is topped-up with seminal fluid, but that does not equate with malignancy.
Give us a break!
[info]sheumais wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 08:55 am (UTC)
"The solitary sexual activity that is widely practised but little discussed, is linked with an increased risk of prostate cancer when practised frequently by young men in their twenties and thirties"

That is the exact opposite of previous findings. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3072021.stm
Re: Give us a break!
[info]jenny75 wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 07:46 pm (UTC)
However, both studies found a protective effect of activity for the older ages, so how are they the "exact opposite"??
Re: Give us a break! - [info]sheumais - Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 08:17 pm (UTC) Expand
Pleasuring oneself
[info]jona123 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 09:14 am (UTC)
Dont forget - dont do the self pleasuring in the cubicle of a public toilet as you will be guilty under the sexual offences Act of "intentional" sexual activity in a public convenience. I have yet to work out what unintentional activity is. To make the activity more of a social activty (to reduce onset of possible dementia?), isnt there a case for subsidised ladies, and or, gentleman of pleasure for the over fifties? Dont forget also to get a good stock of porn in as soon as possible before the government closes all the naughty exposure web sites down as part of the forthcoming Puritan revolution. Im sure wanking will be heavily discouraged regardless of its medical value.
Sherman
[info]ron_broxted wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 10:47 am (UTC)
Sex?I guess I'm good at it, I mean I can hold my own, I pull my weight. (Emo Philips).
Article "Masturbation - good for over 50's"
[info]sue_g wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 10:48 am (UTC)
No mention of females whatsoever. I needn't have bothered to read this if you had titled it accurately ie "Masturbation could be good for MEN over 50", or "Possible link between masturbation and Prostate Cancer." The latter would certainly have got men reading the article.

Let's not ignore (or mislead) 50% of the population please!

Sue G
Re: Article "Masturbation - good for over 50's"
[info]blogwort wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 04:54 pm (UTC)
Curious. 90% of health guidance and advice is directly at women. Unless you find something to benefit women (at the expense of men) you complain.
Please Forward to your BOSS
[info]viper1966 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 10:53 am (UTC)
To all those who wanted to let their bosses know how they fell, now is a good time to do so constructively!
Practised frequently by whom?
[info]davei01 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 11:46 am (UTC)
<< The solitary sexual activity that is widely practised but little discussed, is linked with an increased risk of prostate cancer when practised frequently by young men in their twenties and thirties, doctors say. >>

Err, so this only applies to 'young men' in their twenties and thirties; are there any 'older men' in their twenties and thirties?

More seriously, I think we need better statistical sampling and analysis here - this all seems very provisional.
Re: Practised frequently by whom?
[info]curtisballs wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 12:21 pm (UTC)
I think it sounds a bit too provisional as well. Until we have a better grasp of the facts guys, wank away!
This contradicts AND supplements previous research - errr?
[info]dostoyevsky01 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 11:57 am (UTC)
What are we to believe?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3072021.stm

In the Australian study, using a much bigger sample, masturbation was beneficial to all, even to those in their 20's.

"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." [from the BBC link]

Yet again science only serves to confuse and, perhaps, cause unnecessary distress or worry to the chronic masturbators :-)
WhoStoleTyke
[info]whostoletyke wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 11:58 am (UTC)
At 63 my PSA value is normal and numerous prostate probes over the years have always been benign. The doctor's slight grin tells me I must be doing something right...
Masturbation for the over-fifties
[info]whostoletyke wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 12:02 pm (UTC)
Sue G: "Let's not ignore (or mislead) 50% of the population please!"

Sue, some news just in: Women do not have a prostate gland.
Re: Masturbation for the over-fifties
[info]naamah_darling wrote:
Wednesday, 28 January 2009 at 04:54 am (UTC)
Sue's point was that the title was misleading because it says masturbation is good for people over 50, without specifying that these people are, in fact, MEN over 50.

It is as though the person who wrote this article was completely unaware that women might masturbate, too, and that makes the title look pretty stupid.

I doubt Sue is confused about who has a prostate and who doesn't.
[info]bobav wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 12:40 pm (UTC)
Oh Good... no more hair on my palms
Scare tactics or science?
[info]jon81 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 12:51 pm (UTC)
With this study there is one very important unanswered question: Is a higher level of masturbation a cause of prostate cancer or just a sign of the high testosterone level that contributes to a higher risk of prostate cancer? This was eluded to in the opening paragraph of this article but was gracefully ignored. It is in fact rather poor research technique to publish these results without being able to discuss the questions raised and the average member of the public might not differentiare between fact and conjecture.
You've got to be joking
[info]padraig_oryan wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 01:29 pm (UTC)
Has anyone ever heard such utter tosh?
Oh, I see, your genitals and other organs (e.g. prostate) can differentiate between intercourse and a hand shandy?
Has there ever been a more unscientific piece of study undertaken? The simple, polite answer is "No".
Methinks the authors of this "study" should consider another field of research.
I am not going to suggest that they should look for anyone to take them in hand.
[info]hleewilder wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 01:45 pm (UTC)
Right. If an article came out saying that women tweaking their nipples would stimulate their breasts and thus help prevent breast cancer, think what sort of reaction that would entail. One would dare not joke about it, as with this, but the subject would demand a hushed and solemn thoughtfulness, because, well, because it would be about women, and we certainly can't have a laugh at their expense, now can we? I mean, they've got a pink ribbon and organization behind them, eh? Not to mention posters, postage stamps, telethons and such. It's good to see that prostate cancer brings such a chuckle to people's lives.
[info]indpenden_mind wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 04:44 pm (UTC)
But it's not prostate cancer that causes the chuckle, its merchant banking.
Bashing the Bishop
[info]originalursus wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 02:19 pm (UTC)
This study was merely an excuse for boffins to be a bit rude.
[info]tjs99 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 02:44 pm (UTC)
This is crap. Even if the data is accurate (i.e. a link between masturbation and increase/decrease in disease, it doesnt say anything except as an association) and not just a result of sampling error . Maybe the hormones responsible for sex drive are responsible for differences. Maybe the independent should get themselves a more skeptical medical science reporter?
Masturbation can be good for the over-50s
[info]mmmm8220 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 03:19 pm (UTC)
Sounds as if someone needed to get a grant so they came up with this nonsence.
Masturbation can be good for the over-50s
[info]mmmm8220 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 03:23 pm (UTC)
Sounds as if a med student needed to do a study and chose this subject.
Flawed study
[info]bobbobbkikins wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 03:48 pm (UTC)
Since the physical mechanics of an orgasm are exactly the same whether you achieve it by intercourse or masturbation, the idea that one of them is more likely to lead to problems than the other is plain bunk and brings the integrity of this "study" into question. It's going in the round file.
Re: Flawed study
[info]indpenden_mind wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 04:10 pm (UTC)
I'm sorry to hear that your organs can't tell the difference but mine certainly can!!!
Hand me a prescription
[info]piddle1 wrote:
Tuesday, 27 January 2009 at 03:55 pm (UTC)
Will the NHS now be providing free "hand jobs" by way of preventative therapy ?
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