TLDR Finasteride may cause lasting sexual side effects, but more research is needed.
The article discusses a study by Irwig that reported persistent sexual side effects of finasteride in 96% of patients despite discontinuation of the medication. The study recruited most subjects from an internet forum, and the correlation between finasteride and sexual dysfunction is not consistent with other large-scale studies. The authors of the article suggest that more consideration of the study's methodology is needed before interpreting the results into daily practice or medical education.
112 citations,
July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride may cause long-lasting sexual side effects.
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.
31 citations,
September 2008 in “International Journal of Andrology” 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors may cause a low incidence of erectile dysfunction that decreases over time.
April 2022 in “The Journal of Urology” Men may experience long-term sexual dysfunction after stopping Finasteride.
15 citations,
March 2020 in “Anais Brasileiros De Dermatologia” Finasteride may cause lasting sexual, mental, and physical symptoms; use with caution.
January 2017 in “Scripta Scientifica Vox Studentium” Finasterid 1mg, used for male hair loss, can cause sexual problems in some men, which can last for several months even after stopping the medication.
3 citations,
May 2013 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride may cause lasting sexual side effects, but more research is needed.
112 citations,
July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Finasteride may cause long-lasting sexual side effects.
