Thinking Harder

Masturbation-Prostate Link: eFluxMedia Got It Wrong

By Ben Harder

Posted: April 24, 2008

In my last post, I called eFluxMedia on its erroneous coverage of five-year-old medical research. The publication calls itself "an online newspaper that aims to offer a public service. Its main purpose is to inform its readers correctly, impartially, and continually, according to journalistic principles." It reported today that masturbation reduces men's chance of developing prostate cancer. The story is time-stamped "13:40, April 24th, 2008."

The finding it then goes on to describe was reported by other news organization in July of 2003. In fact, eFluxMedia writer Anna Boyd paraphrased a BBC.co.uk report and a New Scientist story and pulled quotes from both of them (with attribution). Oddly, Boyd did not mention the timing of those reports or of the original medical study, referring to it only as the "latest study in this field." As I just reported, that study is no longer the latest study in the field. A very similar finding essentially confirmed the 2003 study the following year.

E-mails addressed to Anna Boyd and sent to several addresses at eFluxMedia.com were not immediately returned; at least one bounced back. A telephone number could not be found on the publication's website. If I hear back, I'll let you know.

Re: Think harder who got it wrong

You may be right about becoming addicted to masturbation, but the rest of your claims about hair loss, etc. have no scientific basis do they? Where's your proof. Give some links to those claims, if you want anyone believe what you are saying. Also, when you say "most of the guys would agree with me" about being bombarded with info that masturbation is good for you, who exactly are you referring to there? Did you do a scientifically sound survey? Maybe it kind of puts your mind in the gutter, and you can get addicted to it because it releases endorphins, but don't make false claims that have no backing, that's pure speculation on your part and it just makes the arguments that have validity (becoming addicted to it, and putting your mind in the gutter) seem just as false as the rest of your claims, good sir.

Dan of WA @ Dec 20, 2008 01:52:41 AM

Think Harder Who Got It Wrong??

What ever said and done this is like doing advertisement for someone. According to my experience frequent masturbation will make you addicted to it, it’s similar to drug abuse cause masturbation also releases dopamine in the brain that’s one of the reason you would love to do it again and again not realizing the side effect it might cause. What I have now is something I least expected.

Most of the men would agree with me that we guys are frequently bombarded with information about masturbation and its positive effects through News, magazines, porn…etc

But Ben you need to know that the more frequently you do it the sooner you gonna loose a lot… like.. Hair fall, sudden memory loss, loss in concentration, floating eyes, dull/pale complexion, sweating profusely, mood swings and finally erectile dysfunction syndrome. Now who wanna buy some Viagra Ben? Hummm sounds like advertisement may be. Why don’t you do some research on net and know the side effects of masturbation first.

Come on guys masturbation will steal your charm away, the more you do it you will look older sooner than expected and in case you wanna plan for a child your child might not be of good quality, worse you might not get one.

I will be happy to read “Side Effects of Frequent Masturbation“

Raj @ Apr 28, 2008 17:30:54 PM

masturbation crisis

This hardly constitutes a national crisis does it? The bottom line is that masturbation is good for you, whether that was discovered in 2003 or 2004.

Chas Diamond @ Apr 26, 2008 07:40:17 AM

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Thinking Harder

This blog is the public workshop of U.S. News writer and editor Ben Harder. In articles published in the magazine, he has covered a range of sciences, including medicine, human behavior, prehistory, and evolution. Here, he can explore those and other scientific fields more fully and more informally than is possible in print. He'll share whatever seems noteworthy or potentially useful, and he invites readers to do the same.

WTOP Audio
On Feb. 24, 2008, Ben discussed the link between artificial light and cancer on WTOP radio. Listen to the interview at WTOP News. He again talked about light pollution on WTOP on March 22, exploring its environmental effects.

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