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Does Masturbation Help Prostate Cancer

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How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help People With Prostate Cancer And How To Get Started

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Rudy Maltez Alvarez, PT, DPT, is a physical therapist practicing in Washington, D.C., who specializes in pelvic health rehabilitation. He also obtained an advanced specialty from the Norton School of Lymphedema, becoming a Certified Lymphedema Therapist. In his career, he has treated patients of all age groups and sexes and has worked in the outpatient setting. He is also fluent in Spanish and volunteers his time collaborating with therapists in Honduras.

Hi, this is my first time doing physical therapy ever, said Gary* in an anxious tone. I was very nervous about coming and almost canceled my appointment. Gary was diagnosed with prostate cancer 3 months ago and had a radical prostatectomy to remove his prostate 1 month ago. Since his prostate-specific antigen levels continued to be elevated, his next medical treatments were going to be radiation therapy and hormonal therapy. Gary came to me, a pelvic health physical therapist, to help strengthen his pelvic floor muscles ahead of further treatment.

How Much Is Your Risk Reduced

An 18-year Harvard study of nearly 30,000 health professionals discovered that men who ejaculated 21 times per month had a 20% lower risk of prostate cancer than men who ejaculated four to seven times per month.

A similar Australian study discovered that men who ejaculated seven times per week reduced their risk by 36%.

Does Masturbating Increase Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Frequent masturbation in young men is associated with higher risk of initial prostate cancer, but it lowers prostate cancer risk for men in their 50s, a research shows.

Researchers suggest that young men genetically predisposed to have hormone-sensitive prostate cancer will be at higher risk if their bodies naturally produce high levels of male hormones the same hormones that give them an intense sex drive.However, thats not the case for older men. Masturbation itself may actually be helpful in older men, where the prostate gland get rid of fluids that may contain cancer-causing substances. High levels of male sex hormones, or androgens, may increase a mans risk of prostate cancer.It is also said that higher the times masturbation is done in a month by a man, lesser are the chances of getting prostrate cancer in the later years of life irrespective of any age group. Eating habits also needs to be checked to avoid chances of getting prostrate cancer.

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What Are The Effects Of Masturbation

Sexual activity, including masturbation, is to the neurotransmitters dopamine and oxytocin in the brain, which are involved in regulating mood and increasing feelings of pleasure.

Sexual satisfaction has also been associated with many other benefits, including decreased stress levels, improved self-esteem, and life satisfaction in older adults.

Learning To Control Your Breath

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When preparing to do pelvic floor contractions, you must first learn to breathe. Yes, breathing is important for life and for your pelvic floor. Breathing slow and controlled breaths helps to expand or elongate your bodys barrel. I often describe breath practice to my patients as a pre- workout stretch, with the workout being pelvic floor exercises.

Inhalation should be done through the nose, slowly and consistently. Think about taking roughly 4 to 5 seconds to inhale. When done correctly, the chest barely rises, and your lower ribs, abdomen, and pelvic floor expand. Think about filling your bodys barrel.

Then, you must exhale. Exhale through pursed lips for the same amount of time as it took to inhale. Exhale slowly and consistently as well, imagining that you are blowing out a row of 5 candles with one slow breath.

Doing this for several cycles will help you loosen up any increased resting tension in your pelvic floor muscles and will also help you relax. Getting a cancer diagnosis and starting with a treatment plan is life changing, and it can quickly become very stressful. This type of breathing practice can help lower your stress levels by tapping into your rest and digest nervous system.

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Masturbation Can Improve Partner Sex

Heres another myth: masturbation makes sex with a partner less fulfilling. This is not true!

Self-pleasure or mutual masturbation can be an enjoyable part of a healthy relationship.

Studies focused on married women made an important discoverythey were happier in their relationships. However, scientists suggest that this benefit may also apply to married men.

Research also shows that self-pleasure can help people maintain healthier sex drives, and when you know how to pleasure yourself, you can show your partner what you like.

Imaging Tests For Prostate Cancer

Imaging tests use x-rays, magnetic fields, sound waves, or radioactive substances to create pictures of the inside of your body. One or more imaging tests might be used:

  • To look for cancer in the prostate
  • To help the doctor see the prostate during certain procedures
  • To look for spread of prostate cancer to other parts of the body

Which tests you might need will depend on the situation. For example, a prostate biopsy is typically done with transrectal ultrasound and/or MRI to help guide the biopsy. If you are found to have prostate cancer, you might need imaging tests of other parts of your body to look for possible cancer spread.

The imaging tests used most often to look for prostate cancer spread include:

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How Hormone Therapy Is Given

Hormone therapy may be given in many ways:

  • Oral. Hormone therapy comes in pills that you swallow.
  • Injection. The hormone therapy is given by a shot in a muscle in your arm, thigh, or hip, or right under the skin in the fatty part of your arm, leg, or belly.
  • Surgery. You may have surgery to remove organs that produce hormones. In women, the ovaries are removed. In men, the testicles are removed.

What Does The Science Say

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While further research is needed to know precisely how masturbation decreases the risk of prostate cancer, there is strong evidence of their relationship.

Besides, masturbation has other benefits that boost our well-being, relieve stress.

While it is true that theres nothing wrong with ejaculating frequently, it is also true that excessive masturbation can become a compulsory behavior, and in these cases, especially when it is affecting relationships, it becomes a serious concern that should be addressed with psychotherapy.

Although some studies showed variations in results and did have some limitations, overall, it appears that regular sexual activity and masturbation may have a positive effect on prostate health.

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Reducing Your Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Its not yet clear what causes prostate cancer, although we know age, family history, and being African American are factors. Of course, these are things you cant change, but there are simple lifestyle changes you can make to keep your prostate healthy :

  • Eating a diet low in saturated fat with a focus on fish, lean protein, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
  • Engaging in regular physical activity
  • Maintaining a healthy weight

In addition to adopting a healthy lifestyle, using medications called 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors have been shown to reduce prostate cancer risk, although this hasnt been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

Intermittent Hormonal Therapy For Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer

Intermittent hormonal therapy is where you stop taking the drugs and after a while start taking them again. This may be an option for locally-advanced prostate cancer. It gives you a break from the side effects of hormonal therapy.

Intermittent hormonal therapy is not suitable for everyone and should only be done on your doctors advice. Your doctor can explain more about this. They usually measure your PSA level using the PSA test every 3 months. If it goes up to a certain level or you get symptoms, your doctor will advise you to start hormonal therapy again.

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What Is A Private Mri Scan

Multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging is a type of scan that uses magnetic fields to create a detailed picture of the prostate and surrounding tissues it is an advanced tool to help diagnose prostate cancer. Multi-Parametric MRI scanning enables evaluation of the anatomy, blood supply and density of tissues. There is no radiation involved.

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Is Mri Examination Safe

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Yes. The MRI examination poses no risk to the average patient if appropriate safety guidelines are followed.

People who have had heart surgery and people with the following medical devices can be safely examined with MRI:

  • Weight of more than 300 pounds
  • Not being able to lie on back for 30 to 60 minutes

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What Is Androgen Deprivation Therapy

In the past, this was accomplished by surgical castration called bilateral orchiectomy. In that procedure, the testes were both removed. Today, doctors can block the function of the testes in a controllable and most often reversible fashion with drugs that prevent the production of testosterone . These agents can result in shrinkage of the prostate gland, can stop prostate cancer cells from growing for up to several years, and can relieve pain caused by prostate cancer that has spread or metastasized into the bones by shrinking cancer. The use of ADT does not produce a cure. Over time, the prostate cancer cells will develop an ability to grow despite the lack of hormones . Another form of hormonal therapy is the use of androgen receptor blockers these medications prevent testosterone from attaching to the prostate cancer cell and being absorbed into the cell where it can help the cell survive and grow.

Hormonal treatment today is primarily used in the treatment of locally advanced and metastatic prostate cancer. It may be used in conjunction with primary curative therapies to shrink cancer/prostate to increase the likelihood of cure of the treatment, neoadjuvant therapy, and with radiation therapy for several years after treatment . However, the primary role of ADT is in the treatment of widespread or metastatic prostate cancer. While it is not a curative treatment in that setting, it can both reduce symptoms and slow down the growth of prostate cancer to prolong life.

About Dr Dan Sperling

Dan Sperling, MD, DABR, is a board certified radiologist who is globally recognized as a leader in multiparametric MRI for the detection and diagnosis of a range of disease conditions. As Medical Director of the Sperling Prostate Center, Sperling Medical Group and Sperling Neurosurgery Associates, he and his team are on the leading edge of significant change in medical practice. He is the co-author of the new patient book Redefining Prostate Cancer, and is a contributing author on over 25 published studies. For more information, contact the Sperling Prostate Center.

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What To Expect During Hormone Therapy

As you go through hormone deprivation therapy, youâll have follow-up visits with your cancer doctor. Theyâll ask about side effects and check your PSA levels.

Doctors donât know how long hormone therapy works to keep prostate cancer in check. So, while you take it, your doctor will regularly draw blood to check your PSA levels. Undetectable or low PSA levels usually mean that the treatment is working. If your PSA levels go up, itâs a sign that the cancer has started growing again. If this happens, your cancer is considered castrate-resistant, and hormone deprivation therapy is no longer an effective treatment.

Youâll also get other blood tests to see if the cancer is affecting other parts of your body like your liver, kidneys, or bones. Scans will show how well your cancer is responding to hormone therapy.

To lessen the side effects of hormone therapy drugs, researchers suggest that you take them for just a set amount of time or until your PSA drops to a low level. If the cancer comes back or gets worse, you may need to start treatment again.

Masturbating May Protect Against Prostate Cancer

10 Warning Signs of Prostate Cancer

By Douglas Fox

It will make you go blind. It will make your palms grow hairy. Such myths about masturbation are largely a thing of the past. But the latest research has even better news for young men& colon frequent self-pleasuring could protect against the most common kind of cancer.

The protective effect is greatest while men are in their twenties& colon those who had ejaculated more than five times per week in their twenties, for instance, were one-third less likely to develop aggressive prostate cancer later in life .

The results contradict those of previous studies, which have suggested that having had many sexual partners, or a high frequency of sexual activity, increases the risk of prostate cancer by up to 40 per cent. The key difference is that these earlier studies defined sexual activity as sexual intercourse, whereas the latest study focused on the number of ejaculations, whether or not intercourse was involved.

The team speculates that infections caused by intercourse may increase the risk of prostate cancer. Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse, there should have been an even stronger protective effect of other ejaculations, they suggest. Men have many ways of using their prostate which do not involve women or other men, Giles adds.

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Contact Tampas Best Mens Health Clinic For A Sexual Health Consultation And Treatment Plan

Its important to remember that prostate cancer can be treated successfully in many cases. With the right treatment and support, you can overcome this disease.

So, if youre concerned about prostate cancer or have any of the symptoms, dont hesitate to contact the team at Prestige Mens Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with an experienced and specially trained medical staff. We are Tampas leading mens clinic providing ED therapy, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.

Masturbation May Lower Risk Of Prostate Cancer

Specific data from cancer researchers shows a link between how often a man ejaculates and his chances of getting prostate cancer.

In 2016, the results of an 18-year study of 32,000 men in different age groups showed:

  • Practices included self-pleasure, wet dreams, or sex with a partner.
  • Men who ejaculated between 4 to 7 times/month could have an increased risk.
  • But men in any age group who ejaculated at least 21 times/month had a 20% lower chance of getting prostate cancer.

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How Prostate Cancer Is Treated

In cancer care, different types of doctorsincluding medical oncologists, surgeons, and radiation oncologistsoften work together to create an overall treatment plan that may combine different types of treatments to treat the cancer. This is called a multidisciplinary team. Cancer care teams include a variety of other health care professionals, such as palliative care experts, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, oncology nurses, social workers, pharmacists, counselors, dietitians, physical therapists, and others.

The common types of treatments used for prostate cancer are described below. Your care plan may also include treatment for symptoms and side effects, an important part of cancer care.

Treatment options and recommendations depend on several factors, including the type and stage of cancer, possible side effects, and the patients preferences and overall health.

Cancer treatment can affect older adults in different ways. More information on the specific effects of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy on older patients can be found another section of this website.

Because most prostate cancers are found in the early stages when they are growing slowly, you usually do not have to rush to make treatment decisions. During this time, it is important to talk with your doctor about the risks and benefits of all your treatment options and when treatment should begin. This discussion should also address the current state of the cancer:

Does Masturbation Prevent Prostate Cancer

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You may have heard that masturbation can prevent prostate cancer. We decided to check out the research behind this claim. Heres what we found.

The study

Researchers adjusted their data to control for factors that change over time, including body mass index, physical activity, diet and other potential risk factors for prostate cancer.

The findings

Limitations of the study

The research team makes note of several limitations of this study. These include the following:

  • Men were asked to report on their past sexual activity, which relies on accurate memory recall. This may have caused some measurement error.
  • Participants other lifestyle factors may have influenced their risk for prostate cancer.
  • The participants were mostly Caucasian men, so results may vary across other populations.

Take-home message

Reference

  • Most of us know that smoking can cause l…

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Does Having More Ejaculations Lessen The Chance Of Prostate Cancer

For reasons not fully known, ejaculating more may lower the risk of prostate cancer.

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.

Dr. Anne Calvaresi is the chair of the Urology Care Foundation’s Prostate Health Committee. She works in Philadelphia and specializes in urology and prostate health.

Kinds Of Hormone Therapy

Hormone therapy is a category encompassing a number of treatments. In some conditions or diseases, certain hormones are prescribed in order to increase their levels. This is frequently referred to as hormone replacement therapy . Hormones can be natural or synthetic, meaning produced commercially . Patients who do not have prostate cancer but have symptoms from low testosterone levels, such as fatigue, may be prescribed testosterone as a type of HRT. In certain cases, patients with prostate cancer under control may receive this type of hormone therapy however, because of the risk of activating the cancer, some doctors advise against it. Male children or adults with hypogonadism are prescribed testosterone as HRT.

As mentioned previously, HT in prostate cancer aims to reduce production of the hormone testosterone, rather than increase it, thereby interfering with cancer cells ability to use it to grow.

The hormone therapies that have become standard prostate cancer treatments are the ones we discuss in detail in this guide. All decisions regarding these treatments should be carefully made by the patient and doctor together.

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