TLDR Taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not increase the risk of breast cancer in men.
The systematic review and meta-analysis, which included four studies with a total of 595,776 participants, found no significant association between the use of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) and the risk of male breast cancer (MBC). The summary unadjusted risk ratio (RR) was 1.16 and the multivariable-adjusted RR was 1.03, both indicating no positive association. The study concluded that the risk of MBC should not impact the decision to prescribe 5ARI therapy for conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia.
28 citations,
August 2014 in “Cancer Causes & Control” Taking 5α-reductase inhibitors does not significantly increase the risk of breast cancer in men.
32 citations,
May 2013 in “The Journal of Urology” Using finasteride or dutasteride does not increase the risk of male breast cancer.
152 citations,
October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology” Finasteride helps hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
1707 citations,
December 2003 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Combination therapy of doxazosin and finasteride safely and effectively reduces benign prostatic hyperplasia progression risk.
1054 citations,
February 1998 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride reduces urinary issues and surgery need in men with enlarged prostates by over 50%.
187 citations,
January 1994 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
7 citations,
March 2019 in “Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention” Finasteride use is not clearly linked to an increased risk of male breast cancer.
32 citations,
May 2013 in “The Journal of Urology” Using finasteride or dutasteride does not increase the risk of male breast cancer.
1 citations,
April 2019 in “Clinical Breast Cancer” Medicines for enlarged prostate may raise the risk of breast growth and tenderness but not breast cancer.
2 citations,
January 2017 in “Annals of Dermatology” Taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not increase breast cancer risk in men.
33 citations,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The document concludes that sexual and psychiatric side effects from 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are reported, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how often they occur.
