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  • Title: Prostatic cancer, coital rates, vasectomy and testosterone.
    Author: James WH.
    Journal: J Biosoc Sci; 1994 Apr; 26(2):269-72. PubMed ID: 8014182.
    Abstract:
    It is usually supposed that androgens play a major role in the aetiology of prostatic cancer. This note suggests that the association of the disease with low (as well as high) coital rates and its apparent association with vasectomy can both be reconciled with the hypothesised androgenic involvement. Various studies indicate that men with prostate cancer began sexual activity at a younger age; have a higher sexual, particularly at younger ages; a lower frequency of coitus, particularly at older ages; or a higher frequency until around 50 years old, at which time it falls. These findings add weight to the hypothesis that prostate cancer is linked to high testosterone levels. Aggression, criminal violence, impatience and irritability, hostility, reduced tactile sensitivity, and sensation seeking are all associated with high testosterone levels. Variety of sexual experiences is a sensation-seeking behavior. In fact, amount of heterosexual experience, number of heterosexual partners, and interest in erotica are significantly associated with high testosterone levels. Coital frequency of men with high testosterone levels are high early in marriage while low later in marriage, indicating a high degree of variance. Prostate cancer is also associated with divorce, sexually transmitted diseases, and patronage of prostitutes, which factors are secondary to a causal association with high testosterone levels. Some research suggests a link between prostate cancer and vasectomy. If indeed this is true, this association may be secondary to the link of both prostate cancer and vasectomy to high testosterone levels. Men choose to undergo vasectomy, and sensation seekers generally volunteer for unusual experiments. This gives more credence to the hypothesis that the association between prostate cancer and vasectomy is secondary to high testosterone levels. Some reproductive specialists suggest that the ductus deferens transports high levels of androgens from the prostate. Thus, if followed to its logical conclusion, vasectomy should protect against prostate cancer. So the argument that both vasectomy and prostate cancer are associated with high testosterone levels may account for the link between vasectomy and prostate cancer.
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