Navigating Masturbation Research Headlines

A recent  summary of a research study on Science Daily used a particularly misleading title:

Frequent Sex And Masturbation In 20s And 30s Linked To Higher Prostate Cancer

The title implies that masturbation in some way causes prostate cancer. Now, when one actually reads the article, the message is quite different. Frequent masturbation is a potential indicator of increased sex hormones, and increased sex hormones potentially lead to higher prostate cancer risk. So please, do not stop masturbating for the fear of getting cancer.

But then again don’t take this finding at face value. On the same page, in the Related Stories category, you will see two contradicting links. One claims that “High Ejaculation Frequency May Be Linked To A Decreased Risk Of Prostate Cancer”, and another “Sex Hormones Unrelated To Prostate Cancer Risk, Report Shows.”

So to summarize – masturbation may or may not be an indicator of increased sex hormones levels; ejaculating frequently may or may not be an indicator of increased risk for prostate cancer; and sex hormones may or may not cause prostate cancer.

My advice to you: have healthy sex (with yourself and/or others) and do regular check ups. That is, until a truly definitive study comes and proves all of the above wrong.