A recent study conducted by the British Medical Research Council shows that semen speeds up the progression of cervical and uterine cancer in women. Therefore, urging their partners to use condoms could lead to lower rates of the particular types
of cancer in women.
Semen accelerates the growth of cervical and womb cancer in women because it contains high amounts of prostaglandin, a compound playing a crucial role in the formation and progression of malignant tumors. Prostaglandin compound occurs naturally in cells lining the reproductive organs of women, but scientists involved in the study found that semen contains a 1,000 higher concentration of the particular compound.
The prostaglandins are a group of hormone-like chemicals, fatty acid compounds more exactly, produced by cells for various reasons including: the control of body temperature, the influence on heat cycles, the role in inflammation and smooth muscle contraction etc.
In a lab study, researchers exposed receptor molecules of cervical and uterine cancer cells to prostaglandin. Results showed that cancer cells found under the influence of prostaglandin hormone-like compound tend to divide and proliferate faster. Also, the signaling among all cancer cells is increased. This can only cause the malignant tumors to progress more quickly.
That is the main reason why scientists at the Medical Research Council strongly advise women to have only protected sexual relationships and say 'no' to unprotected ones, as the condoms prevent the semen from reaching the female reproductive organs and spreading prostaglandin inhere:
Dr Henry Jabbour of the Medical Research Council, leader of the study, pointed out: "Sexually active women who are at risk of cervical or uterine cancer should encourage their partners to wear a condom to prevent increased exposure to the prostaglandins that may make their condition worse."
However, cancer experts at the Cancer Research UK consider that the hormon-like compound only plays a secondary part in the development and progression of the two cancer types. They stated that even if this could be a useful study for the developing of further medication against cervical and womb cancer, the chances of prostaglandin chemicals to have such a disastrous effect upon malignant tumors are rather "slight."
Professor John Toy, Cancer Research UK's medical director, commented: "This is an interesting piece of laboratory research, but it has little relevance to women already diagnosed with cervical cancer in the UK because they will already be receiving appropriate anti-cancer treatment. The likelihood of any unprotected sex affecting the successful outcome of their treatment is considered slight. The most important thing that women can do at this time to prevent cervical cancer from developing is to go for regular cervical smear tests."
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