Is having constant and exciting sex good for you? Exciting findings have emerged in prostate cancer research, showing the possible connections between how much you have sex and your risk of certain types of lethal cancers. Although in their beginning phases, these studies give us valuable perspectives on understanding prostate cancer, a disease that affects countless men worldwide.

Thankfully for people who enjoy having sex, and a lot of it, research is looking bright. A Harvard Medical School study suggests that ejaculating 21 times a month could reduce a man’s risk of prostate cancer. A similar Australian study points to the same findings. It proposes a frequency of seven times a week. While these results don’t offer an undisputed guarantee that the more you orgasm, the less likely you’ll die from prostate cancer, they do point to the possibility that frequent ejaculation is a good thing.

Lead researcher and study author Jennifer Rider told the magazine Reuters in 2016, “ejaculation frequency is, to some extent, a measure of overall health status in that men at the very low end of ejaculation – 0 to 3 times per month – were more likely to have other (medical problems) and die prematurely from causes other than prostate cancer.”

For people who have multiple partners, there’s even a study for you. The Montreal School of Public Health published a study showing men who’ve had more than 20 female lovers in their lifetime dropped the risk of prostate cancer by around 28% compared to their counterparts who’ve had fewer partners or followed the path of monogamy. However, the researchers, including senior study author Marie-Elise Parent, stressed words of caution that we should not take these findings as an endorsement for having multiple partners and sampling the dating pool. 

One possibility of why hitting the bedroom more often may be good for the prostate gland is the release of cancer-causing chemicals and substances in the prostatic fluid. Dr. David Samadi, chairman of urology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, stressed in an interview that the amount you ejaculate during sex or during masturbation is more important than who your partner is or how many people sleep with. 

These studies also show that men who’ve never had sexual intercourse could be twice as likely to hear the doctor say, “you’ve got prostate cancer.” But that doesn’t mean that who you sleep with couldn’t affect the outcome of the disease as well. According to the same studies, men with over 20 male sexual partners saw a doubled risk of prostate cancer compared to those who never slept with another man. Researchers are clear that more studies need to be done in order to draw any conclusions between gay sex and prostate health. 

Apart from sexual activity, several factors contribute to the risk of developing prostate cancer as you get older. The main thing to look out for is age. If you’re over 50, you are far more likely to be diagnosed with the disease. Other risk factors include race, your genes, how much you weigh and how much you hit the gym, and like every other health issue, diet. 

Even though the numbers point to certain lifestyle risks, they are by no means proof that certain lifestyles are better or healthier than others. Rather than drastically changing your lifestyle, men who are concerned about their prostate health should consult their doctor to get personalized advice. Most importantly, men should get frequent checkups, especially once they enter their 40s. 

While these studies are great beginnings to understanding the role of sexual activity and prostate cancer risk, they also point to the need for more life-saving research. Afterall, sex and its effects on our health is complicated and these studies could save many lives in the future. So, don’t hit the apps and bars just yet or change who your partner is. More research is needed before we start linking promiscuity or the amount you ejaculate, with better prostate health.