[HEALTH TIPS] What research says about claims ‘ejaculating 21 times a month reduces prostate cancer risk’
Ejaculating after all, based upon some studies, through sexual intercourse or masturbation, does not seem to protect against higher risk prostate cancers. The studies do not sort out between ejaculating during sexual intercourse or masturbation, and the effect of each on prostate cancer.
One study followed 32,000 men for 18 years. It found men who ejaculated the most (at least 21 times a month) had a 20% lower chance of prostate cancer vs. those who ejaculated 4 to 7 times a month. The more the number increased per month, the lower their risk. Other studies have found ejaculation rate has no impact on prostate cancer rates.
Ejaculation may protect the prostate by flushing out harmful chemicals that build up in semen. It is also possible ejaculation does not actually protect against prostate cancer. Men who ejaculate more may have healthier lifestyle habits that decrease their odds of being diagnosed with the disease. Additionally, ejaculating may only reduce the risk in men in certain age groups.
What Does the Research Actually Say?
The origin of the “21 times” figure is a 2004 study of 29,000 men over eight years which suggested that those who ejaculated 21 or more times a month had a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer compared with men who ejaculated 4–7 times a month.
However, other studies conducted before and after 2004 have produced complex and inconsistent results, especially when taking age into account.
A 2017 study examining ejaculation frequency and the risk of aggressive prostate cancer does not support the idea that ejaculating more often consistently reduces risk throughout a man’s life.
That study found only a small and uncertain link: men in their 30s who ejaculated more frequently might have a slightly lower risk of advanced prostate cancer, while no clear connection was observed for men in their 20s. Evidence for men in their 40s was weak and inconsistent.
Another research from 2009 also highlighted that the relationship between sexual activity and prostate cancer is not straightforward.
The study found that sexual activity may affect risk differently at different ages: for younger men in their 20s and 30s, more sexual activity, especially masturbation, was linked to a slightly higher risk of prostate cancer, while for men in their 50s, more frequent sexual activity appeared to be somewhat protective, associated with a slightly lower risk.
Men with more sexual partners had a slightly higher risk, with every 10 extra partners increasing the risk by 10%. Those who began sexual activity later had a lower risk, with a 4% reduction for every five-year delay.
Moderate ejaculation, about 2 to 4 times per week, or 8–16 times per month, was also linked to a slightly lower risk.
Overall, the research suggests that men with fewer sexual partners, who started sexual activity later, and who ejaculated moderately were less likely to develop prostate cancer.
In conclusion, science cannot confirm that ejaculating 21 times a month reduces prostate cancer risk. The relationship remains unclear, and more research is needed.
However, here are several risk factors for prostate cancer that men should be aware of:
- Age: Prostate cancer is rare in men younger than 40, but the chance of having prostate cancer rises rapidly after age 50. About 6 in 10 prostate cancers are found in men older than 65.
- Race: The reasons for racial and ethnic differences in prostate cancer risk are not fully understood, but some groups are more prone than others. African American men are more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men, while Hispanic and Asian American men have a lower risk compared with non-Hispanic white men.
- Family history: Several studies have found that risk of prostate cancer is increased among men who reported a history of this cancer in either their fathers or brothers.
- Exposure to chemicals: Certain chemicals may increase the risk of prostate cancer. For example, studies suggest that exposure to Agent Orange, used during the Vietnam War, may be linked to a higher risk.
