# Poll: give up sex forever, or die **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 9, 2014, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388 "2014-06-09T06:37:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/1 "2014-06-09T06:37:22Z")
Context: I’m told I may have prostate cancer. Treatment of this leaves many men impotent, incontinent. [Some large number get castrated](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunuch#Non-castrated_eunuchs). Obviously that won’t kill them, and cancer will, but there it is. So: If you can have an active sex life knowing it will kill you in some number of years, or give up sex forever, **including masturbation** , what do you choose? ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/2 "2014-06-09T06:38:44Z")
Goddammit, hamsters ate my poll. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/3 "2014-06-09T07:32:42Z")
I’d rather live than have sex. Of course, life AND sex is preferable, but I can live without sex. I should probably state I’m female and thus do not have to face either prostate cancer or castration so my situation is a bit different, even so, I’ll take life over sex. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/4 "2014-06-09T07:42:44Z")
Jesus, I like sex but not that much. If it’s castration or being alive there’s not even a choice. How can there be? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/5 "2014-06-09T07:52:30Z")
If they leave my tongue, I’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/6 "2014-06-09T08:15:25Z")
Can I drink? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/7 "2014-06-09T08:19:01Z")
Well now I’d say give me life without sex but I don’t know what my answer would have been at 18. Sure would have changed my life if I’d made the same choice though. ---
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/8 "2014-06-09T09:53:35Z")
We are all going to die… Just a matter of time… I looked into this (I’m male, 64) and concluded: ignore it. There are too many false positive to go around hacking off bits, and too many false negatives to think you DON’T have prostate cancer. And, to top it all off, it seems that, should you life long enough, you WILL (as in 100% probability) get cancer of the prostate. I’ve got better things to worry about 🆒 (for those familiar with my medical history: at least My sense of humor survives) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/9 "2014-06-09T10:42:04Z")
Live. ---
**Author:** ![Sahirrnee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sahirrnee/32/13937_2.png) [@Sahirrnee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sahirrnee)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 10:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/10 "2014-06-09T10:47:52Z")
Life without sex is death. What next? You’ll take away my chocolate? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/11 "2014-06-09T11:42:27Z")
Eh, I had some good sex once in a while back in the 1980s. Now? There’s a lot else to live for. New career. Music. Model flying. Arguing on the Internet. Bringing up teenager(s) and the prospect of grandchildren. Why piss all that away just because the last few percent of my sex life is buying the farm? ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/12 "2014-06-09T12:21:20Z")
There’s more to life man. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Nylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/77aa72/32.png) [@Mr.Nylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Nylock)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/13 "2014-06-09T14:01:44Z")
I am officially past my prime; I realized it today when I read the OP and thought, meh there’s other things to do in life - in my 20’s a swift demise would have been a heavily contemplated choice. ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/14 "2014-06-09T14:04:43Z")
Live, of course. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/15 "2014-06-09T14:05:03Z")
I want to see my son grow up. No contest. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/16 "2014-06-09T14:11:59Z")
Live. I’ve got kids and seeing them grow up is more important to me than boinking. I’m sure my wife would rather I was around as well. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/17 "2014-06-09T15:20:38Z")
I would, hypothetically, chooose life. My FIL, in reality, chose not to have prostate surgery precisely because it may have impacted his “quality of life” (read, ability to have sex). He was (and is) in his 70’s. Different strokes, I suppose (pun fully intended). ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/18 "2014-06-09T15:24:16Z")
> [@squeegee](#): > > Goddammit, hamsters ate my poll. I’m no expert but that seems to be a impediment to a happy sex life as well. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/19 "2014-06-09T15:24:35Z")
I’m asexual, and living proof that giving up sex does not kill you. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2014, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388/20 "2014-06-09T15:52:54Z")
Are you sure masturbation is out? Lord knows I’d give it a shot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-give-up-sex-forever-or-die/690388.md?page=2)