USA — What a horrible spring 2008 has brought to the Religious Right. In addition to mixed-race Illinois Senator Barack Obama moving into position as the Democratic contender for the upcoming presidential election, California has legalized same-sex marriage and science has proven that masturbation isn’t just good for a man, it can protect him against cancer. According to a United States survey, which supports previous research conducted in Australia, frequent masturbation puts men at a reduced risk for prostate cancer.

While the 2003 Australian study, which was discussed in New Scientist that year, only observed 1,000 men, the US project delved into the private sex lives of nearly 30,000 men over a span of eight years – and returned with the same conclusions: masturbation is good for men. In fact, the more, the merrier – and the healthier.

Although no hairy palms or diminished eyesight was reported, the study noted that those who ejaculated the most – 21 times per month – were the least likely to develop cancer. In fact, they were a third less likely to do so than the control group, which spared their seed and only spilled it four to seven times each month.

This will likely come as a tactical shock to those who preach against masturbation, insisting that it is sinful, physically and mentally debilitating – and a serious threat to fidelity and marriage stability.

While some religious theorists have insisted that masturbation damages the immune system, Dr. Michael Leitzmann’s National Cancer Institute in Bethesda concluded quite the opposite. In fact, within the pages of New Scientist, the good doctor observes that “More than 12 ejaculations per month would start conferring the benefit – on average, every second day or so.”

That’s a prescription the average American male won’t mind following.

The earlier, Australian, study had opined that the more men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the less likely they were to develop cancer. The release of ejaculate is believed to include the expulsion of carcinogens that can build up within the prostrate of men who do not ejaculate regularly, according to BBC News.

In the Australian case, ejaculations associated with intercourse were not counted, as they could be associated with the contraction of an STD or other factors that could influence the development of cancer. “Had we been able to remove ejaculations associated with sexual intercourse,” Graham Giles of the Cancer Council Victoria told the press, “there should have been an even stronger effect of ejaculations.”

Animal studies have shown that carcinogens, including 3-methylchloranthrene can build up within the prostrate if they are not removed via regular ejaculation.

Although Leitzmann initially set out to test the socially accepted theory that ejaculation raises the risk of disease in men, he informs New Scientist that “The good news is, it is not related to an increased risk. Instead, it “may be associated with a lower risk.”

While Leitzmann remains guarded in his recommendations, not yet ready to urge men to increase their masturbatory behavior, Giles is not so reserved, observing that “Although much more research remains to be done, the take home message is that ejaculation is not harmful, and very probably protective of prostatic health – and it feels good!”

Since May is National Masturbation Month, those who find science objectionable or junk science amusing may enjoy hearing how masturbation and sexy underwear lead to homosexuality via this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwsm9GMRyEk