Is Sex Healthy For Your Prostate

If You’re A Gay Or Bisexual Man

To be the active partner during anal sex you normally need a strong erection, so erection problems can be a particular issue. You could try using a constriction ring around your penis together with another treatment like PDE5 inhibitor tablets, to help keep your erection hard enough for anal sex.

If you are receiving anal sex, a lot of the pleasure comes from the penis rubbing against the prostate. Some men who receive anal sex find that their experience of sex changes if they have their prostate removed .

If you receive anal sex, then bowel problems or sensitivity in the anus may be an issue after radiotherapy. Its best to wait until your symptoms have settled before trying anal play or sex. If youve had permanent seed brachytherapy there is a risk in the first few months that your partner might be exposed to some radiation during sex. Talk to your doctor or nurse for further advice.

With all sexual changes you may be able to find ways to work through this.

Watch Martin’s story below for one gay man’s experience.

Watch other men’s personal stories about sex after prostate cancer.

Ejaculation Frequency And Prostate Cancer

Despite the importance of prostate cancer, its causes remain unknown. Scientists do know that genetics plays a strong role, and they have sound evidence that diet and other lifestyle factors are also important.

Since the prostate is a reproductive organ that produces fluid for the ejaculate, researchers have long wondered if sexual factors influence a man’s risk of prostate cancer, but a Harvard study provides good news for sexually active men.

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Good Foods For Prostate Health

Lots of tasty, easy-to-prepare foods help prevent prostate cancer. Blueberries, almonds, and dark chocolate, for example, are full of antioxidants that help flush toxins out of your body and help fight all forms of cancer. Blueberry-almond chocolate brownies, anyone? The same goes for most fruits and vegetables, as well as fish. Here are some other prostate-healthy foods.

Watermelon: High in vitamins A and C and free of fat and salt, watermelon is a mouthwatering healthy food choice regardless of your age. It also happens to be an excellent source of lycopene, an antioxidant that research suggests may help lower prostate cancer risk. There are as many as 9 milligrams of lycopene in a small slice of watermelon. Guys should aim to consume about that much a day. Other lycopene-rich foods include tomatoes, apricots, pink grapefruit, guava, and papaya.

Adam Kreeks Salmon, Roast Veggies & Special Sauce

Salmon: This delicious and versatile fish joins tuna, herring, sardines, and lake trout in being packed with omega-3 fatty acids linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. So fire up the oven and try this awesomely easy recipe for baked salmon.

Carrots: A 2014 study found that eating more carrots produced a significantly decreased risk of prostate cancer. This versatile and easy-to-prepare veggie was made for dippingsay, in some hummusand combines effortlessly with salmon in this super-easy recipe.

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If Youre The Giving Partner

Cleanliness and safety are a must, even for the giver.

Cut and file your nails smooth to help avoid scratching or tearing the delicate skin in and around the anus.

Wash your hands thoroughly, even if youre planning to use a condom over your finger to penetrate your partner. For extra comfort, stuff cotton balls inside the condom or glove.

You can also get the party started in the shower together, which serves as foreplay and gets you both all nice and clean for the big show.

Youll probably need to try a few different moves and experiment with speed and pressure to find what feels best.

Here are some techniques to try, whether youre using fingers or toys.

Men Should Ejaculate At Least 21 Times A Month To Slash Their Prostate Cancer Risk

Milking the cow is good for stress, anxiety and sleep too

Cum one; cum all. We have a story that all men should take notice of.

According to researchers at Harvard University men should ejaculate at least 21 times a month in order to mitigate their prostate cancer risk.

For the study, which was published in the journal European Urology, 31,925 men provided their average monthly ejaculation frequencies. From that the researchers found that men who ejaculate more frequently also slash their chances of developing prostate cancer by a third.

“We evaluated whether ejaculation frequency throughout adulthood is related to prostate cancer risk in a large US-based study,” wrote the study’s authors.

“We found that men reporting higher compared to lower ejaculatory frequency in adulthood were less likely to be subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“These findings provide additional evidence of a beneficial role of more frequent ejaculation throughout adult life in the aetiology of PC , particularly for low-risk disease.”

But a reduced chance of getting prostate cancer isn’t the only benefit of milking the cow. Ejaculating more frequently has also been found to dramatically reduce feelings of stress and anxiety.

“In addition to decreased feelings of pain, secretion of endorphins leads to feelings of euphoria, modulation of appetite, the release of sex hormones, and enhancement of the immune response,” says Medicine Net.

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How To Maintain Your Sex Life After Prostate Surgery

Although prostate surgery can affect your sexual experience and performance, getting surgery to remove part or all of your prostate doesnt mean that you can no longer have sex or enjoy a satisfying sexual life. 

However, it does mean that you may need to make some changes to how you and your partner have sex. These may include using ED medications, erection-promoting devices or engaging in penile rehabilitation exercises to keep your penis stimulated and healthy. 

If youve recently had prostate surgery, its important to talk to your healthcare provider before you make any changes to your health habits. Theyll be able to inform you about what you can do to restore and improve your sexual function after surgery. 

Study Raises Biological Questions

Researchers say the findings raise several questions about the biological role of sexual activity and ejaculation in the development of prostate cancer.

Leitzmann says that until now, sexual activity had been associated with prostate cancer risk due to the hormone hypothesis. The male sex hormone testosterone is known to spur the growth of prostate cancer cells and it also fuels the male sex drive. Therefore, it had been proposed that very sexually active men had a higher risk of prostate cancer because they had higher testosterone levels.

But he says this theory has its shortcomings because testosterone levels alone do not predict prostate cancer risk and they do not appear to correlate with sexual desire as much as previously thought.

Instead, researchers say ejaculation may protect the prostate through a variety of biological mechanisms that merit further research, such as:

• Flushing out cancer-causing substances. Frequent ejaculation may help flush out retained chemical carcinogens in the prostate glands.

• Reducing tension. The release of psychological tension that accompanies ejaculation may lower nervous activity associated with stress and slow the growth of potentially cancerous cells in the prostate.

• Promoting rapid turnover of fluids. Frequent ejaculation may help prevent the development of mini-crystals that can block ducts within the prostate gland, reducing cancer risk.

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When Should You Get Tested For Prostate Cancer

A blood test known as Prostate-Specific Antigen was once routinely given to all men over age 50 to check for elevated levels of a substance in the blood that might indicate prostate cancer. That recommendation was withdrawn in the early 2010s, because the test is imprecise and could lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment.  But in May 2018, the US Preventive Services Task Force issued its latest recommendation : Between the ages of 55 and 69, men should individually decide whether to screen for prostate cancer with a PSA test, after consulting with their doctor. Prostate cancer screening is not recommended after age 70 since there is no evidence it results in an increased lifespan.

Does Sexual Activity Improve Prostate Health

Regular ejaculation enhances the immune systems response to the presence of cancer cells.

According to a report published in JAMA, men who reported having more than 20 ejaculations per month were 33% less likely to develop prostate cancer.

These measured ejaculations included sexual intercourse, nocturnal emissions, and masturbation. Researchers evaluated nearly 30,000 patients, of whom 1,449 developed prostate cancer.

Assuming the men answered the survey questions honestly, the results indicated that active sex life is not associated with higher cancer risk in most men.

An Australian study of 2,338 men also came to a similar conclusion. This study found that men who averaged 4.6 to seven ejaculations a week were 36% less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 70 compared to men who ejaculated less than 2.3 times a week on average.

The study found no connection between prostate cancer and the number of sex partners.

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Can You Prevent Prostate Cancer

Because experts cant definitively say what causes prostate cancer, they havent issued recommendations on how to prevent it. But according to Harvard Medical School , quitting smoking and eating a heart-healthy diet focused on fish, poultry, plant-based protein, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and salads may reduce your risk. Getting regular exercise and using 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors have been shown by some studies to reduce the risk of prostate cancer.

Does Sex Reduce A Mans Risk For Prostate Cancer

Research does suggest that certain aspects of sex, like number of sexual partners, age at first intercourse, and ejaculation frequency might affect prostate cancer risk. However, more research is needed before doctors can prescribe sex as a definite way to reduce risk.

In an August 2018 Journal of Sexual Medicine article, scientists reported on their review of 22 studies on the topic. Overall, the studies involved over 55,000 men.

Number of Sexual Partners

Men who had had fewer sexual partners over their lifetime appeared to be at lower risk for prostate cancer. Risk increased 1.10-fold for every 10 female partners a man had.

Age at First Intercourse

 Men who had their first experience with intercourse at older ages were also at lower risk for prostate cancer. For every five years of delay, risk decreased 4%. In other words, a man who had intercourse for the first time at age 16 would be at higher risk than a man whose first experience was at age 21.

Its possible that men with fewer partners and those who wait longer to have intercourse might have less exposure to sexually-transmitted infections and risky sexual behaviors, which might play a role in cancer risk, according to the review.

Ejaculation Frequency

Research also suggests that ejaculating more often either through partnered sex or through masturbation might reduce their odds of developing low-risk prostate cancer, but scientists are not 100% sure.

• Follow a sensible diet

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Get A Prostate Exam Each Year

As part of your annual mens health exam at Mens T Clinic®, our physicians check the health of your prostate. Every man receives a digital rectal exam . Yup, thats the awful test where a doctor sticks a gloved finger up your anus and you cough. But the awful test could save your life.

If youre between ages 55-69 or at high risk for prostate cancer, we may also recommend a prostate-specific antigen blood test to determine if your levels of PSA are within normal ranges. We may also advise you to get your first test at age 40 or so, to help establish a baseline normal value unique to you.

Show your prostate you care by contacting our Mens T Clinic®office that’s nearest you — in Dallas, Frisco, The Colony, Houston, Cypress, Pearland, Pasadena, Grapevine, and Spring, Texas. You can phone us or use the online booking form to set up a mens health consultation today.

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Less Sex For Prostate Cancer Prevention

Another study published more recently in the same journal found that men who have lots of sex in their twenties and thirties are more likely to get prostate cancer, especially if they masturbate a lot.

This study, done at the University of Nottingham in England, also relied on questionnaires. The study participants included 431 men with prostate cancer diagnosed before age 60 and 409 men without prostate cancer. Among its findings were that men with prostate cancer are more likely to have had female partners, more likely to have had a sexually transmitted disease, and more likely to masturbate.

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Surgery To Remove The Prostate

You no longer ejaculate semen if you have had a radical prostatectomy. This is because the prostate gland and 2 glands called the seminal vesicles are removed. The seminal vesicles make the liquid part of the sperm. Your testicles will still make sperm cells but they will be reabsorbed back into your body.

You are still able to have an orgasm, but it will be a dry orgasm. Some men say that a dry orgasm without semen feels normal. But other men find that their orgasm is less intense and pleasurable.  The loss of a visible ejaculation can be significant for some men and their partners. Some men say that it feels different but they have managed to find ways to adjust to this.

If you are used to having anal sex and you are the receiving partner, surgery to remove the prostate gland can change this experience. Some men can find the penis rubbing against the prostate gland pleasurable. So if the prostate gland is no longer there, anal sex might feel different. You could look at different ways of enjoying sex and being intimate. Counselling and sex therapy might help.

• Read about surgery to remove your prostate gland

Whats Lifeand Sexlike With Prostate Cancer

If youve completed treatment for prostate cancer, youll continue to be monitored to make sure your cancer doesnt return. Regular PSA tests are necessary.

That said, youre probably wondering about the elephant in the roomwhat about sex? Its true that treatment for this disease can radically change your sex life, but the good news is it does not have to end it. Different treatment options can trigger different side effects, and your age and health history all come into play, too. However, sexual side effects often go away, though perhaps not as soon as you would like. The Prostate Cancer Foundation says that most men see improvements within a year of surgery, for example, while the lack of sex drive that can accompany hormone therapy often resolves right after treatment ends. So remember: The road back to a healthy, active sex life is very frequently achievable.

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How Prostatitis And Other Prostate Problems Can Ruin Your Sex Life

4 min Read Time

You hear a lot about sex when it goes right you hear practically nothing about sex when it goes wrong.

For men struggling with prostatitis a condition where the prostate becomes inflamed or irritated or other prostate problems, the implications for your sex life can be startling.

How Common Is Prostatitis?It’s the most common urinary tract condition for men under 50. 2 million US men visit healthcare providers about prostatitis every year.

The prostate gland helps sperm travel during ejaculation and is part of the male reproductive system, explains the National Library of Medicine .

Common prostate problems, according to the National Institute on Aging, include:

• Acute bacterial prostatitis: Starts with a bacterial infection in the prostate
• Chronic bacterial prostatitis: A recurring infection
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia: Enlarged prostate but not cancerous
• Prostate cancer

When something goes wrong with the prostate, it can wreck your sex life. For example, chronic symptoms of prostatitis can lead to sexual dysfunction, including painful ejaculation or even a drop in libido, says the National Cancer Institute.

Here are other ways prostatitis and other prostate problems can put a cramp in your sex life and what treatment options are available.

Symptoms Of Prostate Cancer In Men

With painful ejaculation among prostate cancer symptoms, the disease can put a damper on your sex life. Other symptoms include:

• Difficulty urinating
• Frequent urination, especially at night
• Burning or pain when urinating
• Inability to urinate or difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
• Blood in the urine or semen

Its important to note that symptoms arent always presentespecially in the early stages of prostate cancerwhich is another reason to talk to your doctor if youre over 40.

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Changes To Orgasm And Ejaculation

After prostate cancer treatment you will still have feeling in your penis and you should still be able to have an orgasm, but this may feel different from before. Some men lose the ability to orgasm, especially if they’re on hormone therapy.

If you’ve had radical prostatectomy, you will no longer ejaculate when you orgasm. This is because the prostate and seminal vesicles, which make some of the fluid in semen, are both removed during the operation. Instead you may have a dry orgasm – where you feel the sensation of orgasm but don’t ejaculate. Occasionally, you might release a small amount of liquid from the tip of your penis during orgasm, which may be fluid from glands lining the urethra.

If you’ve had radiotherapy, brachytherapy, high intensity focused ultrasound  or hormone therapy, you may produce less semen during and after treatment. With radiotherapy, brachytherapy and HIFU you may also notice a small amount of blood in the semen. This usually isn’t a problem but tell your doctor or nurse if this happens. Some men on hormone therapy say their orgasms feel less intense.

Some men leak urine when they orgasm, or feel pain. Others find they don’t last as long during sex and reach orgasm quite quickly.

Prostate Cancer And Sexual Health

A prostate cancer diagnosis can leave you feeling anxious, frustrated, and depressed.

It may also leave you wondering about your ability to have sex. You may also be questioning how prostate cancer treatment can affect your sex life.

Prostate cancer rarely causes problems with sex, but the treatments for prostate cancer often affect penile function and reproduction.

Prostate surgery and radiation are the two most common treatments for prostate cancer. Both of these can affect the nerves in your penis and could cause sexual problems like erectile dysfunction .

Cryotherapy and ultrasound therapy can also cause ED. Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy or radiation therapy, as well. This therapy can lower your sex drive.

Radical prostatectomy is the most effective nerve-sparing surgery for prostate cancer. It can substantially limit the duration of post-surgical ED but requires a surgeon to be highly skilled and trained in the process.

In this type of procedure, the surgeon takes care not to damage the erectile nerves that surround the prostate as it is removed.

However, if cancer has infiltrated these nerves, it may not be possible to save them.

Preventing injury to these nerves dramatically improves the chances of a man recovering erectile function within two years of the surgery.

In addition to ED, you may also find that your orgasms are different after undergoing treatment for prostate cancer.

They may not feel as strong, and you will not see as much ejaculate.

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Okay Exactly What And Where Is The Prostate

The prostate is a walnut-size gland nestled deep inside the male pelvis, and it helps produce semen and nourish it with important substances, Hong, M.D., a urologist in Phoenix, tells SELF. Cisgender women dont have prostates. But for the folks who do have them, the prostate is made up of tissue known as stroma, secretory glands that produce semen ingredients, and muscle fibers. Its located right in front of the bladderthe ducts in the prostate gland actually flow into the urethra, which is why prostate issues can affect urinary function. For example, if someone has an enlarged prostate , they might find that they have a more frequent urge to pee, among other symptoms, the Mayo Clinic explains.

What Are The Other Risk Factors For Prostate Cancer

But your gene pool is not the only possible trigger for prostate cancer. Other risk factors include:

• Advancing age. Prostate cancer rarely occurs in men under 40. Once you turn 50, however, your risk begins to rise. Men over the age of 65 account for more than half of all prostate cancer diagnoses.

• Race. In the U.S., African American men are about 60% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than white men, and they are two-to-three times more likely to die from it. It can also develop at a younger age. The reasons why are unclear. Genetic differences may account for some of the differences, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , as well as systemic disparities in healthcare, which can lead to less access to cancer care, including screenings for early detection.

You cant change risk factors like your age or your race. But can your diet and other lifestyle habits change your level of risk?

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What Are The Types Of Prostate Cancer

Believe it or not, theres more than one kind of prostate cancer. They differ in how quickly and aggressively they grow. Heres the breakdown:

• Nearly all prostate cancers are known as adenocarcinomas. This type of cancer develops in gland cells. And, more than nine out of 10 prostate cancers are acinar adenocarcinomas. They affect a type of cell called acini.

Other types of prostate cancer are rare. They include:

• Small cell carcinoma, a very aggressive cancer which accounts for about 1% of prostate cancers

• Urothelial carcinoma of the prostate, a deadly, difficult-to-diagnose cancer that accounts for 1% to 4% of prostate cancers

• Ductal adenocarcinoma, which on its own accounts for less than 1% of prostate cancers, but it can occur with acinar adenocarcinoma

Are There Any Risks And Side Effects To Prostate Massages

The anal mucosa and the anus itself are very sensitive,” Hong explains. Although the anus is built to stretch to a certain extent, it doesnt self-lubricate, meaning without proper precautions anal stimulation can cause pain and tearing . This means that its super important for everyone involved to prepare for giving and receiving a prostate massage . Its also worth mentioning that this might feel a bit uncomfortable at first. As SELF previously reported, making sure youre getting in sufficient amounts of foreplay is a big part of lowering the odds that youll deal with things like pain and tearing.

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Ways To Stay On Top Of Prostate Health

The nut-sized gland called the prostate lies between the base of your penis and your bladder. This small gland has a mighty job: It must produce the seminal fluid that carries your sperm into a partner and allows you to ejaculate.

When your prostate isnt healthy, you dont feel well, either. Although the most common condition that affects your prostate is benign prostatic hyperplasia , the most deadly is prostate cancer, which kills more than 34,000 men in the United States each year. 

Because the prostate sits so near the bladder, if it gets too large it can interfere with your ability to urinate. Although BPH doesnt cause cancer, both BPH and prostate cancer have similar symptoms, including urinary incontinence, dribbling, and failure to void urine. 

Prostate cancer is rare. However, BPH is common, with its risk increasing as you age.

Our physicians at Men’s T Clinic® are specialists in mens health. Thats why we encourage you to adopt the following five prostate-healthy lifestyle habits, no matter how old you are. And fortunately, prostate-healthy habits increase your overall health, too.