Long-Term Treatment with Finasteride Induces Apoptosis and Pathological Changes in Female Mice

April 2019 in “ Human & Experimental Toxicology ”

Abdullah A. Alkahtane, Gadah Albasher, Nouf Alsultan, Wedad Saeed Al-Qahtani, Saud Alarifi, Rafa Almeer, Jawahir Alghamdi, Deeba Ali, A. Alahmari, Mohamed M. Abdel-Daim

finasteride apoptosis pathological changes liver kidney heart estrogen testosterone genotoxicity mutagenicity Propecia

TLDR Finasteride causes harmful organ changes in female mice.

A study conducted on female mice found that long-term treatment with finasteride, a drug used to treat hair loss in men, induced apoptosis and pathological changes in vital organs such as the liver, kidney, and heart. The study suggests caution in any future consideration of finasteride use in females, as even low doses of the drug can have negative effects on females and alter estrogen/testosterone balance, leading to genotoxicity and mutagenicity.

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Research cited in this study

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Protective Effect of DA-9401 in Finasteride-Induced Apoptosis in Rat Testis: Inositol Requiring Kinase 1 and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway

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New alopecia treatments aim for better results and fewer side effects.

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Use minoxidil for hair loss; finasteride and dutasteride for men, dutasteride for women.

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Finasteride for hair loss can cause long-lasting sexual side effects like low libido and erectile dysfunction.

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Finasteride use may cause sperm damage and infertility, stopping it can improve sperm health.

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Finasteride may cause male infertility, stopping it can help.

research S1 Guideline for Diagnostic Evaluation in Androgenetic Alopecia in Men, Women, and Adolescents

151 citations, August 2010 in “British Journal of Dermatology”

Guidelines for diagnosing common hair loss include detailed history, clinical examination, and various diagnostic techniques.

research Changes of Metabolic Profile in Men Treated for Androgenetic Alopecia with 1 mg Finasteride

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Taking 1mg of finasteride daily can mildly improve metabolic health and glucose regulation in men with male pattern baldness.

research Finasteride-Induced Myalgia and HyperCKemia

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Finasteride can cause muscle pain and high creatine kinase levels, but stopping the medication may resolve symptoms.

research The Effect of 5α-Reductase Inhibition with Dutasteride and Finasteride on Semen Parameters and Serum Hormones in Healthy Men

195 citations, February 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Dutasteride and finasteride may reduce sperm count and volume but don't affect movement or shape; effects are reversible after stopping.

research Spermatozoa and Chronic Treatment with Finasteride: A TEM and FISH Study

23 citations, January 2007 in “Archives of Andrology”

Finasteride may negatively affect male fertility.

research Prevalence of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss in Maryborough

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Hair loss common in Australia; men affected earlier, more often than Asians; women less concerned.

research Evaluation and Treatment of Male and Female Pattern Hair Loss

203 citations, December 2004 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Early diagnosis and treatment, using finasteride, minoxidil, or hair transplantation, improves hair loss outcomes.

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research Effect of Finasteride, a 5 Alpha-Reductase Inhibitor, on Serum Gonadotropins in Normal Men

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Finasteride doesn't affect hormone levels in normal men.