‘If you don’t use it, you lose it,’ once the college-male motto, is quickly becoming an idea of the past.

A study of more than 800 men conducted by the University of Nottingham concluded last week that men who have sex and masturbate frequently in their 20’s and 30’s are more likely to develop prostate cancer than their counterparts.

The study sent scholars studying sexuality into a frenzy, mostly because sex and masturbation have been accepted as both immune system boosters and healthy forms of physical exercise since the Kinsey studies in the 1960s.

On top of the many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) that currently plague both men and women on college campuses, men now have to worry if they’re having too much sex – regardless if it’s ‘safe’ or not.

Perhaps that’s why the trend on college campuses seems to undermine pop culture taboo – abstinence is becoming an increasingly more popular trend, according to the Center for Disease Control.

The CDC reported a decrease in students reporting to be sexually active of 12 percent between 1991 and 1997, with a continual decrease since that time.

Whether it’s the risk of contracting an STI, cancer or strict religious beliefs, students seem to be scared out of having sex all over the country. And Syracuse University is no exception.

Amanda Taylor, a junior psychology major, started her pledge of abstinence for religious reasons, but continues to abstain because of some of the risks.

‘It started out as a Christian thing. Now I’m not so much Christian, but have found that some of the values are important to me,’ she said.

Taylor’s said she’s done the bad-boy routine, dating the guy she knows is no good for her, and those experiences reassured her of her goal for abstinence. The fear of catching an STI keeps her from letting her morals slip.

‘Some guys I’ve been with have been around the block a couple of times,’ she said. ‘It kind of discouraged me from having sex with just anybody.’

Indeed, sex these days can be risky.

The CDC estimates that 60 to 80 percent of people age 15-25 have HPV. Other STIs like gonorrhea, Chlamydia and herpes are significantly prevalent at SU.

But the future of sex isn’t quite so grim – the same study which revealed that masturbation and sex can lead to prostate cancer also found out that an overly active sex life after 50 can prevent prostate cancer.

Not only that, but frequent masturbation and sex help insomnia and depression by elevating hormones. No, it won’t increase penis size (sorry, boys), but the health benefits range from stress relief to enhanced stamina in athletics and other physical activities.

Regardless of the proven health benefits, the UK study is certainly causing quite a stir. It should be noted that a control study during such experimentation is both difficult and widely viewed as unethical.

The study is circumstantial – asking people with prostate cancer what their sex lives were like in their 20’s and 30’s.

The study did not take two groups of people and have one group participate in sexual acts 12 times a month (the average time someone reported who was ‘high risk’) and another group who didn’t have sex frequently and wait 20-30 years to see which group was more likely to get prostate cancer.

In similar studies done before the Nottingham University trial, masturbation was shown to help prevent prostate cancer.

The field of sexuality is always changing, adjusting to and fighting social stigmas and standards. Whether abstinent or active, sex should always be practiced safely, with both you and your partner(s) aware of the risks you’re taking.

Rebekah Jones is a sophomore psychology and newspaper journalism major, the feature editor and the sex columnist. Her minor is in sexuality, so she does know what she’s talking about. She can be reached at rdjone03@syr.edu

Published on February 10, 2009 at 12:00 pm