Examine the evidence and see the conclusions real scientists came to.
6 min read
For the second week of Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we’re exploring prevention. Unfortunately, while many men suffer from the ailment, the causes of prostate cancer still primarily remain a mystery.
Since the prostate is the organ that produces ejaculate fluids, researchers have long wondered if sexual factors could influence the risk of prostate cancer and, in 2010, a Harvard study provided some good news for highly sexually active men.
How the study worked
In 1992, researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health drew on the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study, an ongoing query that has tracked a large group of male health professionals since 1986.
They asked 31,925 men between ages 46–81 to report their average monthly ejaculation frequency across three life stages: young adulthood (20s), middle age (40s), and the year just before the survey, via questionnaire.
Afterwards, the men were then followed for 18 years (through 2010), during which researchers tracked who was diagnosed with prostate cancer (3,839 cases total) using medical records and cancer registries.
What the study said
Even after adjusting for factors that might explain the results — like BMI, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use, family history, and how often each man got prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening, the men in the highest ejaculation-frequency group still showed a statistically significant reduction in prostate cancer risk compared to the men in the lowest-frequency group.
In fact, researchers found that men who reported a higher frequency of ejaculation throughout adulthood were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than men with lower frequency.
“High ejaculation frequency was linked to a decreased risk. Compared to men who reported 4–7 ejaculations per month across their lifetimes, men who ejaculated 21 or more times a month enjoyed a 31% lower risk of prostate cancer.”1
Why this could be true
Sure, there’s the old adage that if it sounds too good, then it probably is, but in this case it’s not medically out of the range of possibility. Scientists have put forth a few possible explanations as to why this could be possible.
Links between cardiovascular health and cancer
Healthy lifestyle choices can improve both heart health and prostate cancer outcomes. Radiation oncologist Dr. Sagar Patel of Emory University states:
“If you’re diagnosed with prostate cancer, you’re most likely to die of heart disease, and that’s based on our statistics…so, it’s really important to level up your cardiovascular health.”
Stagnation hypothesis
This explanation dates back to earlier research from 2004.2 The idea is that potentially carcinogenic secretions can build up inside the prostate over time, and that longer gaps between ejaculations give those substances more opportunity to potentially contribute to tumor formation. Ejaculation is thought to help “clear out” or flush this fluid, essentially reducing the window of exposure.
Cellular and gene expression changes
A second idea points to a time in 2019 when scientists led a study that examined prostate tissue from 157 men and analyzed the expression of over 20,000 genes. They found that 409 of these genes acted differently depending on how often a man had ejaculated — meaning the tissue itself looked molecularly different.3
Why you should be wary
So, while it is scientifically possible, there are a couple reasons to question exactly how positive this monthly 21-gun salute is for the prostate. Before you start marking off the calendar with your spouse and/or locking yourself in the bathroom for a few days, remember:
The sample is weak
Not only were subjects asked to recall their average monthly ejaculation frequency from decades earlier, all participants were mostly white, higher-income, higher-education men (dentists, pharmacists, vets, optometrists). That population may not reflect the broader U.S. male population, especially since black men with prostate cancer die at double the rate of non-Hispanic white men.
It’s simply a study
This is not a true experiment. That means it can only show an association with ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk — it can’t prove it actually prevents it.
In medicine, associated with means a statistical link or correlation between a factor and a condition, while prevent means an action successfully stops a condition from happening.
With prostate cancer, it’s completely possible some other factor — overall health, hormone levels, relationship status, general lifestyle — independently drives both higher ejaculation frequency and lower cancer risk, without one causing the other.
Dr. Anne Calvaresi, the chair of the Urology Care Foundation’s Prostate Health Committee, agrees, stating:4
“The bottom line is more research is needed before we know for sure whether more ejaculation reduces the risk of prostate cancer.”
So what can you do?
While researchers are still looking for answers, many studies suggest that making easy lifestyle changes can decrease, or at least not increase, the odds of getting prostate cancer. Consider making the following adjustments to decrease your prostate cancer risk:
Eat right and exercise
It’s not what most people want to hear, but it’s been the right advice for a long time. Here are five things you can focus on to help make the change to healthier habits:
Avoid red & processed meat
Red meat and processed meat, including deli meats and bacon, can increase a person’s likelihood of developing prostate cancer.5 Opt for different proteins, such as fish or chicken. However, if you can’t bear the thought of completely eliminating red meat and processed meat from your diet, simply eat it way less: Think of it only as a treat, or only for holidays.
Eat soy protein and beans
Many studies associate the intake of soy protein, such as tofu, and isoflavones with lower prostate cancer risk. Consider also adding more beans and legumes to your diet. However, this doesn’t mean you should eat excessive amounts of soy protein; simply including some soy protein as part of a weekly diet has been found to decrease cancer risks.
Taste the rainbow
Eat a healthy diet with a variety of fruits, vegetables and proteins. Men don’t have to adhere to a strict diet to avoid prostate cancer — just focus on eating nutrient-dense foods. Aim for a “colorful plate” at mealtime.
Cut down on sugar
One study that followed 22,720 men for nearly a decade found a correlation between the amount of concentrated sugars the men consumed in beverages and desserts and the increased incidence of prostate cancer.6
Get moving
According to studies carried out at Harvard Medical School, even low to moderate physical exercise, such as regular walking, reduced men’s chances of developing BPH. What’s more, men who had already developed prostatitis and prostate cancer and exercised regularly saw better results than those who didn’t.
Be aware of your risk factors
Not all prostate cancer risks are about what you ingest. Some are connected to what you inherit from your relatives, as well as your own actions. Here’s a few other things you should consider if you’d like to decrease your prostate cancer risk:
Learn your family history
If the men in your family have a history of prostate cancer, your risk may increase. Additionally, a family history of breast cancer may mean you are more at risk for prostate cancer.
Maintain a healthy weight
While more research needs to be done on the topic, evidence indicates a potential correlation between obesity and high risk for aggressive prostate cancer. Inversely, men in a healthy body mass index (BMI) range are more likely to recover from prostate cancer faster than those outside a healthy BMI range (higher than 25 BMI).
Get preventive screenings
Your doctor will determine when you should start getting preventive screenings for prostate cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, men at average risk of prostate cancer who are in overall good health should start at age 50. However, screenings should start at age 45 for men at high risk of the disease, including African Americans. Men at the highest risk for prostate cancer should start at age 40.7
Try and stay stress-free
Perhaps the most important factor in lessening cancer risks is to keep your life as stress-free as possible. Rather than worrying about every single potential health risk, focus on living a healthy, well-rounded life. Try to create a routine that will keep your body fit and healthy, so you can spend more time enjoying the people and activities you love.
Watch other warning signs
There are several symptoms your body could be presenting that might hint at deeper underlying problems. For example, erectile dysfunction is a potential early warning sign of cardiovascular disease,8 which in turn could affect your risk of prostate cancer. Take this quiz to see if you have any of the signs.
This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice.
References
- Rider JR, Wilson KM, Sinnott JA, Kelly RS, Mucci LA, Giovannucci EL. Ejaculation frequency and risk of prostate cancer: updated results with an additional decade of follow-up. Eur Urol. 2016;70(6):974-982. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2016.03.027
- Leitzmann MF, Platz EA, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, Giovannucci E. Ejaculation frequency and subsequent risk of prostate cancer. JAMA. 2004;291(13):1578-1586. doi:10.1001/jama.291.13.1578
- Wang S, Mucci LA, Loda M, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, Rider JR. Ejaculation frequency and prostate cancer risk: a gene expression analysis in a cohort of men with prostate cancer. Eur Urol. 2019;76(2):188-195. doi:10.1016/j.eururo.2018.11.011
- Calvaresi A. Ask the experts: does having more ejaculations lessen the chance of prostate cancer? UrologyHealth Extra. Urology Care Foundation; Fall 2020. Accessed August 31, 2026. https://www.urologyhealth.org/healthy-living/urologyhealth-extra/magazine-archives/fall-2020/ask-the-experts-does-having-more-ejaculations-lessen-the-chance-of-prostate-cancer
- Howlader N, Noone AM, Krapcho M, et al, eds. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2014, Section 23: Cancer of the Prostate. National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD. Accessed September 1, 2026.
- Miles FL, Neuhouser ML, Zhang ZF. Concentrated sugars and incidence of prostate cancer in a prospective cohort. Br J Nutr. 2018 Sep;120(6):703-710. doi:10.1017/S0007114518001812. PMID: 30047347; PMCID: PMC6123266. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30047347/
- Smith RA, Andrews KS, Brooks D, et al. Cancer screening in the United States, 2019: A review of current American Cancer Society guidelines and current issues in cancer screening. CA Cancer J Clin. 2019;69(3):184-210.
- mayoclinic.org. Erectile Dysfunction: A vital sign for cardiovascular health. Accessed August 2026. https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/urology/news/erectile-dysfunction-a-vital-sign-for-cardiovascular-health/mac-20585074
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