Finasteride and Sexual Side Effects

This article reviews the evidence on the sexual side effects of finasteride, a drug used to treat male pattern hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Studies show that sexual adverse effects occur at rates of 2.1% to 3.8%, with erectile dysfunction being the most common followed by ejaculatory dysfunction and loss of libido. However, the side effects are reversible and occur in less than 2% of men. The article recommends that physicians properly counsel patients about the treatment and stress that the intake of the drug is voluntary. Further studies are needed to establish the value of lower daily doses or staggered pulse doses of the drug to enhance patient compliance.