The Persistent Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Used in the Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia on Men’s Health

    January 2020 in “ The Journal of Sexual Medicine
    J. Rivera Mirabal, Jeffrey K. Than, J. Annaisie, Ali Antar, Wen Yi Song, Boriss Losso, Alexander W. Pastuszak, Tamara Kohn, Mohit Khera
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    Studysummary This study evaluated the persistent adverse effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors in men previously treated for androgenic alopecia and highlighted issues with sexual, genitourinary, physical, psychiatric, cognitive, and androgenic health.
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    Three years ago, a retrospective case-control study was conducted on 50 men to understand the persistent effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors (5ARIs), used in treating androgenic alopecia (AGA), on various aspects of men's health. The study found a significant difference in the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) score between the 25 men who had used 5ARIs and the control group. Furthermore, 68% of the men who had used 5ARIs had a vascular abnormality. The study concluded that besides the well-known sexual side effects, 5ARIs may cause persistent genitourinary, physical, psycho-cognitive, anti-androgenic, and penile vascular changes even after discontinuation. The Post Finasteride Syndrome Foundation supported this study.
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