TLDR Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and may help with baldness, but effects on sexual function and male fetuses are unclear.
This document from 1994 discusses the drug finasteride, which inhibits the production of dihydrotestosterone and is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. The drug has been shown to reduce serum concentrations of prostate-specific antigen and may prevent or attenuate male-pattern baldness. However, its effects on sexual function are unclear, and there is concern that it may prevent virilization of male fetuses. The article suggests that further research is needed to fully understand the potential benefits and risks of finasteride.
48 citations,
November 1992 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Long-term finasteride use doesn't change bone density or metabolism.
1040 citations,
October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.
9 citations,
August 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” 40 citations,
February 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Taking finasteride pills and using minoxidil lotion together can help grow hair.
211 citations,
November 1990 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Finasteride effectively treats BPH, but needs more trials to understand potential.
122 citations,
July 1990 in “Teratology” Finasteride exposure in pregnancy causes genital abnormalities in male rats.
147 citations,
April 1990 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride safely lowers DHT levels without affecting testosterone.
55 citations,
March 1990 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride may treat baldness but less effective for those with 5α-reductase deficiency.
82 citations,
February 1989 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” A three-month treatment with a GnRH agonist significantly lowered androgen levels and 5α-reductase activity in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia.
November 2020 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride 1 mg every other month works as well as daily dose for hair loss maintenance.
38 citations,
June 2003 in “Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings” Finasteride effectively improves hair growth and slows hair loss in men with male pattern baldness.
