Hairless or Fertile? Finasteride Leads to Epididymal Changes and Infertility in Rats

    April 2012 in “ Fertility and Sterility ”
    Keith Jarvi
    Image of study
    TLDR Finasteride may cause infertility in rats by affecting epididymis and sperm function.
    The use of finasteride, a 5 a-reductase inhibitor commonly used to treat male baldness, may lead to epididymal changes and infertility in rats, according to a study by Garcia et al. The study found that finasteride caused changes in the structure and function of the epididymis, as well as reduced sperm function and fertility potential without any significant alterations in sperm production. The authors postulated that the poorer sperm parameters and fertility potential in those rats treated with finasteride were due in part to the rapid transit through the epididymis. The study adds experimental weight to the limited literature suggesting that the use of finasteride could result in male infertility.
    Discuss this study in the Community →

    Research cited in this study

    6 / 6 results

    Related Community Posts Join

    6 / 1000+ results

      community Creatine is the opposite of minoxidil !

      in Research/Science  323 upvotes 4 months ago
      Creatine may counteract minoxidil's hair growth effects by closing potassium ATP channels, potentially leading to hair loss in predisposed individuals. Despite anecdotal reports, there is no conclusive evidence linking creatine to hair loss.

      community Experience with only Minoxidil and Nizoral

      in Minoxidil  6 upvotes 5 months ago
      Minoxidil and Nizoral alone are unlikely to stop hair loss effectively, as they do not address the root cause, which is often DHT. Many users suggest incorporating a 5AR inhibitor like finasteride or dutasteride for better results, despite concerns about potential side effects.

      community New and Interesting HairLoss Studies/Papers/Reviews

      in Treatment  43 upvotes 6 years ago
      Hair loss treatments discussed include Dutasteride with Ketoconazole, tissue engineering strategies, and androgenetic alopecia therapies. Massage doubles follicular retention, improving treatment effectiveness.

      community Maintaining hair until Breezula without Fin

      in Treatment  6 upvotes 5 years ago
      A 21-year-old male experienced side effects from topical finasteride and is seeking alternative treatments to maintain hair until Breezula is available. He is considering using minoxidil, Nizoral, micro-needling, and vitamin D supplementation, and may try CB or RU58841 if necessary.

    Similar Research

    5 / 1000+ results