TLDR Public awareness of finasteride's sexual side effects has increased, suggesting healthcare providers should discuss these risks more thoroughly with patients.
The study analyzed global online interest in finasteride's sexual side effects from 2004 to 2020 using Google search data. It found that the average relative search volume (ARSV) for "finasteride" increased from 15% in 2004 to 57% in 2020, with significant interest in "finasteride side effects" and "post-finasteride syndrome" over time. The FDA's 2011 warning about finasteride's sexual side effects led to a notable increase in search interest. These findings highlight growing public awareness, suggesting that healthcare providers should discuss potential side effects more thoroughly with patients before prescribing finasteride.
September 2022 in “International Journal of Impotence Research” Public interest in finasteride's sexual side effects has significantly increased.
September 2021 in “Fertility and Sterility” Public interest in finasteride's sexual side effects has significantly increased, highlighting the need for better patient discussions.
3 citations,
September 2015 in “PubMed” Most men stopped using the hair loss treatment not because of sexual side effects, but because they didn't see positive results.
20 citations,
June 2015 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” Finasteride worsens erectile dysfunction and lowers testosterone in men with enlarged prostates, unlike tamsulosin.
185 citations,
March 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride for hair loss can cause long-lasting sexual side effects like low libido and erectile dysfunction.
223 citations,
December 2010 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Some patients taking finasteride or dutasteride may have ongoing sexual problems and depression even after stopping the medication.
225 citations,
July 2007 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Knowing about finasteride's sexual side effects increases reported dysfunction.
