Men’s health- avoiding prostrate cancer

We know that products of ejaculation are used for reproductive purposes, making babies; but did you know frequently ejaculating can help improve your physical health?

Harvard School of Public Health recently published a research that found that men who had a minimum of 21 ejaculations per month had a 33% lower risk of Prostate Cancer compared to men who ejaculated less than seven times in a month.

33% may not seem big, but if you are 33% more or less likely to be diagnosed with a disease, which would you prefer? Now if that 33% affects your worth as a man, are you now likely to pay more attention?

On the male anatomy, the prostate gland is the walnut-sized organ that surrounds the urethra and is located near the rectum. As part of the male reproductive system, the prostate gland produces most of the fluid that makes up the semen. Hence when a man ejaculates, the fluid is cleared away and more is used to replace it. Thus when not frequently cleared through ejaculation, build-up of excess fluid in the prostate gland may cause adverse consequences.

The prostate gland increases in size as men age, and this increase in size can cause many obstructive symptoms such as difficulty urinating or urinary frequency. These symptoms are similar to that of prostate cancer. As an older man, if you experience any of these symptoms: difficulty passing urine, urinary retention, bladder fullness, and having blood in the urine, see your doctor. Do not self-diagnose yourself with prostate cancer.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy/Hyperplasia (BPH) and Prostatitis are two other illnesses of the prostate gland more commonly found in aging men. BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland and can be easily treated with medications and minor surgery; while Prostatitis is associated with tenderness of the prostate gland as a result of inflammation or an infection and is treated with antibiotics. The symptoms of BPH and Prostatitis both mimic the symptoms of Prostate Cancer, but by themselves are not cancerous. See your doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer that affects men. It is also the leading cause of cancer deaths in men, probably as there are usually no early symptoms to detect Prostate Cancer. Diagnosis occurs in 1 out of 5 men; that is, one in every five men will be diagnosed with Prostate cancer if necessary preventive measures are not observed. Think of it this way, if you’re a guy and you were out drinking with a few friends, the probability that one of you will be diagnosed with prostate cancer is very high. 1 in 5 men!

This is true especially for African men who are more at risks than men of other races: an African man is more likely to be diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. The good news is that Prostate Cancer is preventable – especially through very pleasurable means as we have recently found out! However you do the math; that is, making it possible to ejaculate 21 times in a 31 day period to increase your chances of being 33% less likely to be at risk of Prostate Cancer, please go right ahead. Your prostate will thank you for it.
Nevertheless medically, men should also undergo proper screening methods specifically because Prostate Cancer can be treated when caught early. Screening for prostate cancer should start at 50 years old. As an African man, screening should start at age 45, and if there is a history of Prostate Cancer in your family, do yourself a favor and start as early as 40 years of age.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and Digital Rectal Exam (DRE) are two common screening methods for Prostate Cancer. PSA exists in the blood but in small amounts, however, a man with Prostate Cancer will have significantly elevated levels of PSA. A yearly PSA blood test can help monitor the prostate condition. DRE is a more invasive screening method, it is recommended yearly for men over 45 years. DRE involves your doctor inserting a finger into your rectum to physically check the prostate gland. Doesn’t sound pleasant right? Infact it is downright cringe worthy, but the benefits far outweigh the consequences. Choose, 5 minutes of displeasure versus a life-threatening illness? I think the answer is obvious.

Annual screening goes a long way in preventing or reducing the incidence of prostate cancer. Prostate Cancer can be also prevented through lifestyle changes. In addition to ejaculating more frequently, eating less processed foods, and engaging in proper nutrition and exercising is also most crucial in preventing Prostate Cancer. The Cancer Research, UK, discovered that a 4 inch increase in waist circumference can increase a man’s chances of developing fatal prostate cancer by 18%. So each time your waist increases 4 inches above the normal 40 inches, you increase your risks and if you become obese, your chances are doubly multiplied to exacerbate the illness. I can’t stress enough just how important eating right and exercising is to living a long healthy life.

Like all diseases, a healthy lifestyle is required to prevent occurrence of prostate cancer. It is also one of the only illnesses you can prevent by engaging in frequent and safe sexual behavior. Preventive screening is also very important as early detection saves lives. Among black men, nearly 1 in 5 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and 5% of these people will die from the disease. Call your husband, father, brother, uncle or any important male in your life and ask them when last they had a prostate exam or had sex… They will thank you for it.

Disclaimer: The medical information provided on here by Dr. Nini Iyizoba is provided as an information resource only. This information does not create any patient-physician relationship and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.