Sexual activity and prostate cancer: most associations remained uncertain
A review linked more frequent ejaculation with lower prostate cancer odds, while other sexual activity measures showed no statistically significant associations.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Higher ejaculation frequency was associated with lower odds of prostate cancer in this pooled analysis. Intercourse frequency, number of female partners, masturbation frequency and age at first intercourse did not show statistically significant associations. These relationships do not establish that changing sexual behavior prevents cancer, and nonsignificant findings leave uncertainty.
The abstract omits reference frequencies, exposure categories, underlying study designs and follow-up lengths. This abstract-based account cannot link a specific ejaculation frequency to a defined benefit.
What researchers found
Prostate cancer odds with higher ejaculation frequency
Pooled odds were 0.83 times those in the reference group, describing relative odds rather than absolute cancer risk. The reference frequency and follow-up timeframe were not reported.
Separate measures
The review analyzed ejaculation and masturbation frequency separately, alongside other sexual activity measures. The ejaculation association therefore should not be presented as evidence that masturbation prevents prostate cancer.
What remains uncertain
The confidence interval describes uncertainty around the pooled odds ratio. Even a statistically significant association cannot show that ejaculation itself prevented cancer or reveal an individual's absolute cancer risk.
The original publication
Updated dose-response meta-analysis of sexual activity and prostate cancer risk.
Raeisvandi A, Omidi S, Javaheri M et al.
BMC Cancer · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41345847
- Record checked
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