Accra: Dr John Nana Nkrumah, a Urologist and Senior Specialist at the GPHA Clinic and International Maritime Hospital, has warned against recommending frequent sexual activity as a preventive measure for prostate cancer. Dr Nkrumah emphasized that although research has explored a potential link between ejaculation and prostate cancer, the evidence is insufficient to endorse a specific frequency of sexual activity as a protective measure against the disease.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Nkrumah shared these insights during a media discussion on prostate cancer awareness organized by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). He elaborated that research had examined various forms of ejaculation, such as sexual intercourse, masturbation, and wet dreams. However, he stressed that the study's findings must be evaluated in conjunction with other risk factors and the study's methodology, rather than being interpreted as a directive for a particular number of ejaculations.
Dr Nkrumah highlighted the inappropriateness of advising men, especially young individuals, to adhere to a specified number of ejaculations per month as a means to prevent prostate cancer. He also pointed out that wet dreams are involuntary, making them an impractical preventive measure.
The discussion also touched on the implications for men whose professional or religious commitments involve celibacy. Dr Nkrumah asserted that current findings do not support the notion that men who abstain from regular sexual activity are at a higher risk of developing prostate cancer. Instead, he urged men to prioritize established screening and risk factors and to seek early medical advice.
Addressing treatment and sexual potency, Dr Nkrumah explained that some treatments for advanced prostate cancer could impact men's sexual potency. He noted that this effect is particularly linked to treatments aimed at reducing testosterone levels to control advanced or metastatic disease. He outlined that testosterone reduction could be achieved medically or surgically, with surgical treatment potentially involving the removal of the testicles.
Dr Nkrumah further explained that lowering testosterone could decrease sexual drive and affect sexual potency. He emphasized that the side effects of treatment for advanced prostate cancer could impact a patient's quality of life, underscoring the importance of early detection when treatment could offer a better chance of curing the disease and preventing progression to an advanced stage.