GOOD NEWS from BBC News: Masturbation 'cuts cancer risk'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3072021.stm
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. And
they say sexual intercourse may not have the same protective effect
because of the possibility of contracting a sexually transmitted
infection, which could increase men's cancer risk. Australian
researchers questioned over 1,000 men who had developed prostate
cancer and 1,250 who had not about their sexual habits. 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. FLUID Previous research has suggested that a
high number of sexual partners or a high level of sexual activity
increased a man's risk of developing prostate cancer by up to 40%.
But the Australian researchers who carried out this study suggest the
early work missed the protective effect of ejaculation because it
focused on sexual intercourse, with its associated risk of STIs.
Graham Giles, of the Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne, who led
the research team, told New Scientist: "Had we been able to remove
ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have
been an even stronger protective effect of ejaculations." The
researchers suggest that ejaculating may prevent carcinogens
accumulating in the prostate gland. The prostate provides a fluid
into semen during ejaculation that activates sperm and prevents them
sticking together. The fluid has high concentrations of substances
including potassium, zinc, fructose and citric acid, which are drawn
from the bloodstream. But animal studies have shown carcinogens such
as 3-methylchloranthrene, found in cigarette smoke, are also
concentrated in the prostate. 'Flushing out' 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. Another
theory put forward by the researchers is that ejaculation may induce
prostate glands to mature fully, making them less susceptible to
carcinogens. Dr Chris Hiley, head of policy and research at the UK's
Prostate Cancer Charity, told BBC News Online: "This is a plausible
theory." She added: "In the same way the human papillomavirus has
been linked to cervical cancer, there is a suggestion that bits of
prostate cancer may be related to a sexually transmitted infection
earlier in life." 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.
"This is a plausible theory," said Dr Chris Hiley, Prostate Cancer
Charity.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/3072021.stm
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ImpeachGeorgeWBush
Yahoo! Groups Links
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CanYoAssDigIt/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
CanYoAssDigIt-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment