英國牛津大學一項研究發現，如果中年男子仍是處男，患前列腺癌機會比性生活活躍的男士少47%。

研究人員調查了22萬名年齡介乎40至69歲的男子，發現中年處男相對性生活活躍的男士，患前列腺癌機會少47%。前列腺癌是英國男士「頭號敵人」，平均每8名男士便有1人患病。

負責研究的蒂姆基（Tim Key）教授表示，「（患者）透過性行為感染，增加患前列腺癌風險，這個可能性存在。」蒂姆教授指另一個可能性與低水平睪丸酮水平有關，因為睪丸酮水平低便能避免患前列腺患癌，「因為（睪丸酮）是性荷爾蒙，這或許可以解為何這些男士對性興趣不大。」

Stay virgin to avoid cancer: Study reveals middle-aged virgins have less risk of getting prostate cancer

The study revealed that men who had never experienced sexual intercourse were 47 percent less likely to develop the disease.

A new study has revealed that the chances of middle-aged virgins getting prostate cancer is much less as compared to men who are sexually active.

Scientists, compiled data from 220,000 men aged between 40 and 69 for the study and found that virgins have half the risk of getting prostate cancer when compared to sexually active men.

The study revealed that men who had never experienced sexual intercourse were 47 percent less likely to develop the disease.

According to the research carried out by Oxford University, the likelihood jumps up to almost one in 16 for virgins.

It is to be noted that prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers among men in the UK. One in eight is being diagnosed with the deadly disease in their lifetime, with reportedly 43,000 cases in the UK, each year.

Professor Tim Key told The Sun: "Infections passed during sex, raising prostate cancer risk, could be a possibility."

Professor Key added: "Low testosterone levels are also a possible explanation. We know it is a protective factor against prostate cancer. And as it is a sex hormone, it may explain why these men are less interested in sex."

He explained saying that reduced levels of testosterone in virgins may have contributed to the lower levels of diagnosis.

However, Prof Key also admitted: "It is a huge study but there were only about 20 cases of men who had never had sex."

The study also showed that being fat also appears to slash the risk by a quarter. Referring to the lower risk of the disease for obese men, Prof Key said: "It may be that it is simply harder to pick up cancer in these men.

http://www.ibtimes.co.in/stay-virgin-avoid-cancer-study-reveals-middle-aged-virgins-have-less-risk-getting-prostate-cancer-755304