More Std Test might be cause of Prostate Cancer

Scientists have suggested that prostate cancer may be linked to sexually transmitted diseases, meaning that more a more widespread program of STD tests might be advisable amongst the older generation.

The researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital showed that the infection trichomonas vaginalis, a bacterial infection, was strongly associated with incidences of aggressive or advanced prostate cancer.

They analysed blood samples from 673 men with prostate cancer and discovered that it was associated with a nearly three-fold risk of developing fatal prostate cancer and a two-fold increase in the likelihood of being diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

The team studied blood samples from the participants in the study and compared them with an equal number of healthy men. They looked at blood samples collected 15 years before and discovered that the men with antibodies to the infection were 23% more likely to develop prostate cancer and 2.17 times more likely to develop the aggressive form of the disease, which spreads throughout the body and is often fatal.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world and it is believed that up to 174million people are infected with it each year.

However it is not generally part of routine STD tests done on the NHS as it was not previously associated with any dangerous side effects. Most people do not have symptoms, though it can cause discharge and painful urination in some cases.

Often the only way to get tested for the infection is privately. There are companies that offer home STD testing, and often the test for trichomonas vaginalis is part of the Full Screen Home STD Testing package. Trichomonas is easy to test for – all that is required is a urine sample, which makes it ideal for home STD testing. It is also very easy to treat, usually clearing up after a short course of antibiotics.

The new research suggests that a wider screening program and more frequent STD tests for the infection might be advisable and could help cut the number of prostate cancer related deaths. Currently the main tactic used to combat prostate cancer is screening, but this usually only detects very slow-progressing tumours, rather than the more aggressive variety.

The full research has been published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.