Exposure of Xenopus Laevis Tadpoles to Finasteride, an Inhibitor of 5-Alpha Reductase Activity, Impairs Spermatogenesis and Alters Hypophyseal Feedback Mechanisms

The conversation discusses the potential link between hair loss treatment pills, specifically finasteride, and infertility. Users share their experiences and opinions, with some suggesting that finasteride can temporarily lower sperm count, while others argue that other factors like age and lifestyle could also contribute to infertility.

Dutasteride raises scalp testosterone by 99%, which may not be ideal for those sensitive to all androgens. Some argue finasteride's balancing act might be better, while others believe dutasteride is superior for hair regrowth.

User tried dermarolling for hair loss and shared progress pictures. Some suggest adding finasteride and minoxidil, while others debate effectiveness and frequency of dermarolling.

Hair loss treatments discussed include Dutasteride with Ketoconazole, tissue engineering strategies, and androgenetic alopecia therapies. Massage doubles follicular retention, improving treatment effectiveness.

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

Topical Finasteride doesn't directly reduce 5ar enzyme on scalp and has the same mechanism as oral, needing to go through the liver. Users debate the accuracy of this information and discuss various studies and experiences.