5α-Reductase Inhibitor Therapy: Should Physicians Be Concerned With Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients?

The document discusses the potential adverse effects of 5α-reductase inhibitor therapy, which is used to treat androgenetic alopecia (hair loss) and benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The therapy has been shown to be effective in preventing hair loss and improving urinary symptoms while reducing prostate size. However, it may also lead to serious side effects, including diminished libido, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunction, depression, and other behavioral and cardiovascular events. Some of these effects may be irreversible and can significantly impact the quality of life of individual patients. The study emphasizes the importance of physicians discussing these potential risks with patients before starting treatment, as the adverse effects can persist or become irreversible in some cases, and patients may not recover even after discontinuing the drugs. Alternative treatments should be considered and thoroughly addressed with the patient.