Impact of Women's Sexual Health on Prostate Cancer Risk in Men

Abstract

Introduction: Prostate cancer is a significant health issue for men. This study investigates whether women’s sexual health and relationship satisfaction influence prostate cancer risk in their male partners. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study involving 1,000 heterosexual couples where the male partner was over 40 years old. Couples in stable relationships with no prior history of prostate cancer were included. Baseline data included demographic information, medical history, lifestyle factors, the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) to assess women’s sexual health and relationship satisfaction. Sexual activity frequency was also recorded. Participants were followed annually for 10 years to track prostate cancer incidence in men. We used Pearson correlation and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression for statistical analysis. Results: We found a significant negative correlation between FSFI scores and prostate cancer incidence (r = -0.42, p < 0.05). Higher DAS scores and more frequent sexual activity were also associated with a reduced risk of prostate cancer (r = -0.35 and r = -0.38, respectively, both p < 0.05). These results suggest that better sexual function and relationship satisfaction in women are linked to a lower risk of prostate cancer in their male partners. Conclusion: Women’s positive sexual health and relationship satisfaction may reduce prostate cancer risk in men. These findings underscore the importance of considering partner dynamics in prostate cancer prevention strategies and encourage further research into underlying mechanisms.