Dr John Nana Nkrumah, Urologist and Senior Specialist at the GPHA Clinic and International Maritime Hospital, has advised men not to rely on frequent sexual activity as a means of preventing prostate cancer.

According to him, although some studies have investigated a possible link between ejaculation and a reduced risk of prostate cancer, the evidence does not justify prescribing a particular frequency of sexual activity for cancer prevention.

Dr Nkrumah made the remarks during a media discussion on prostate cancer awareness powered by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

He said studies on the subject had considered various forms of ejaculation, including sexual intercourse, masturbation and wet dreams.

However, he cautioned against interpreting such research as a recommendation that men should ejaculate a certain number of times each month to protect themselves against prostate cancer.

He said the findings must be assessed in the context of other known risk factors as well as the methods and limitations of the studies.

“It would be inappropriate to tell men, especially young people, that they must ejaculate a specified number of times every month to prevent prostate cancer,” he said.

Dr Nkrumah pointed out that wet dreams, in particular, were involuntary and could not be controlled or deliberately used as a preventive strategy.

While acknowledging the findings of the research, he said its limitations meant that he could not recommend frequent ejaculation as an established prostate cancer prevention measure.

He also dismissed the suggestion that men who abstained from sexual activity because of their professions or religious commitments were necessarily at greater risk of developing prostate cancer.

He urged men to pay greater attention to established risk factors, undergo appropriate screening and seek medical attention promptly when they develop concerning symptoms.

Prostate cancer treatment and sexual function

Dr Nkrumah further explained that some forms of treatment for advanced or metastatic prostate cancer could affect sexual potency.

He said this was particularly the case with treatments designed to lower testosterone levels because the male hormone can contribute to the progression of prostate cancer.

He noted that concerns about impotence among some men undergoing treatment were therefore valid.

According to the urologist, testosterone production can be reduced through medical or surgical interventions. Surgical treatment may involve the removal of the testicles, while medicines can also be used to suppress testosterone production or activity.

He explained that because testosterone plays an important role in sexual function, reducing its levels could lead to a decline in sexual drive and affect sexual potency.

Dr Nkrumah added that these treatment-related effects could also negatively affect patients’ overall quality of life.

He consequently emphasised the importance of early detection and treatment of prostate cancer, noting that identifying the disease before it advances offers better prospects for curative treatment and can help prevent the complications associated with advanced disease.

What is Ejaculation

Ejaculation is the process by which semen, a mixture of sperm and fluids from glands, is expelled from the penis. It usually occurs during orgasm, the peak of sexual excitement, but can also happen without orgasm, such as during nocturnal emissions or involuntary arousal.