26 citations
,
July 2019 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study found that reproductive gynecologists are the primary source of referrals for male infertility evaluations, with many men referred before completing a male factor investigation even when using assisted reproductive technologies or lifestyle factors like testosterone replacement.
7 citations
,
January 2019 in “The Aging Male” This article discusses post-finasteride syndrome as a distinct syndrome related to prolonged use of 5α-steroid reductase inhibitors, noting persistent side effects even after discontinuation and no new research results are reported.
17 citations
,
December 2018 in “The World Journal of Men s Health” This study concluded that administering dutasteride for more than 8 weeks in rats could lead to irreversible erectile dysfunction, even after stopping the medication.
54 citations
,
May 2018 in “International journal of risk & safety in medicine” This study observed enduring sexual dysfunction reported in 300 cases globally following the use of SSRIs, finasteride, and isotretinoin, with common symptoms like genital anaesthesia and loss of libido.
40 citations
,
April 2018 in “Endocrine” This review discusses post-SSRI sexual dysfunction and post-finasteride syndrome, highlighting unknowns about their true incidence and underlying causes, and reports no new clinical results.
11 citations
,
April 2018 in “Journal of Dermatology” In a randomized study, men treated with dutasteride for androgenetic alopecia experienced sexual adverse events at twice the rate of those on placebo during 24 weeks, but these events were mild, moderate, and resolved after treatment.
11 citations
,
January 2018 in “International Journal of Trichology” This commentary reviews the post-Finasteride syndrome and argues that while the condition's validity is debated, comprehensive guidelines are needed to address related risks and treatment options; it reports no new clinical results.
58 citations
,
April 2017 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” This study found that patients with post-finasteride syndrome exhibited major depressive disorder, severe erectile dysfunction, and neuropathy, alongside altered neuroactive steroid levels in cerebrospinal fluid.
50 citations
,
March 2017 in “PeerJ” This study found that longer exposure to 5α-reductase inhibitors significantly increased the risk of persistent erectile dysfunction, especially in younger men exposed to finasteride.
50 citations
,
September 2016 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” This study found no evidence of androgen deficiency or decreased peripheral androgen action in men with persistent sexual symptoms after finasteride use, but identified links to depressed mood and abnormal brain function.
57 citations
,
July 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This study concluded that 5α-reductase inhibitors were linked to increased sexual dysfunction in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia, but not in men with androgenetic alopecia.
31 citations
,
February 2016 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study found that nearly half of men using finasteride reported clinically significant depression, highlighting the need for psychiatric screening and careful risk assessment by prescribing clinicians.
43 citations
,
January 2016 in “International Journal of Andrology” This study found that men experiencing long-term symptoms after finasteride use for androgenetic alopecia frequently reported loss of penis sensitivity and anhedonia, among other effects, indicating potential post-finasteride syndrome.
33 citations
,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” This review examines medical literature on postfinasteride syndrome and reports no new results; the authors call for more controlled studies on permanent sexual dysfunction and mood changes linked to 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors.
33 citations
,
December 2015 in “Neuroendocrinology” This study found that subchronic finasteride treatment in male rats altered neuroactive steroid levels and steroid receptor expression in the brain, with some changes persisting after drug withdrawal.
111 citations
,
August 2015 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders” 5α-reductase inhibitors may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and depression, needing more research on long-term effects.
69 citations
,
July 2015 in “Pharmacotherapy” This study found that low-dose finasteride use in young men was associated with higher reporting of persistent sexual dysfunction, with some cases linked to suicidal ideation.
93 citations
,
September 2014 in “Diabetes” This study found that male 5αR1 knockout mice and obese Zucker rats treated with finasteride showed increased insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis, potentially implicating 5α-reductase activity in metabolic liver disease development.
22 citations
,
August 2014 in “Clinical endocrinology” This study suggests that the use of finasteride for benign prostate hyperplasia may increase the risk of osteoporosis diagnosis, particularly at higher doses.
36 citations
,
June 2014 in “PLOS ONE” This study found that men with persistent sexual side effects after using finasteride for androgenetic alopecia had higher androgen receptor expression in certain tissues compared to those who never used the drug.
81 citations
,
June 2014 in “American Journal of Men's Health” This study highlights that adverse effects from finasteride may persist in men after discontinuation, indicating a potential "post-finasteride syndrome.
54 citations
,
September 2013 in “Fertility and Sterility” This study found that discontinuing finasteride led to a significant increase in sperm counts for most men with reduced fertility, though hormone levels and other semen parameters remained unchanged.
112 citations
,
July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” In this study, 96% of men with persistent sexual side effects from finasteride reported continued dysfunction after discontinuation, suggesting these effects may endure long-term.
185 citations
,
March 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This study found that 94% of healthy men reported low libido and 92% reported erectile dysfunction as persistent sexual side effects after using finasteride for male pattern hair loss, with these effects lasting on average 40 months post-discontinuation.
36 citations
,
February 2011 in “Fertility and Sterility” This case report suggests that discontinuing low-dose finasteride in a 48-year-old man led to a significant reduction in sperm DNA fragmentation index, indicating a possible link between finasteride and sperm DNA damage.
38 citations
,
December 2010 in “Fertility and Sterility” In this case report, a male patient's semen parameters improved after discontinuing a 1-mg dose of finasteride, suggesting that stopping the medication may benefit infertile men with previous sperm production issues.
24 citations
,
January 2010 in “Endocrine Regulations” In this study, men taking 1 mg/day of finasteride for 12 months showed minor metabolic changes and slight improvements in glucose metabolism.
49 citations
,
December 2007 in “Fertility and Sterility” This case report describes two infertile patients who experienced significant improvements in sperm concentrations six months after stopping finasteride.
225 citations
,
July 2007 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” In this study, patients informed about finasteride's potential sexual side effects reported a significantly higher occurrence of these side effects, suggesting a nocebo effect.
195 citations
,
February 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” In this study, administering 5alpha-reductase inhibitors reduced dihydrotestosterone levels and was associated with mild, reversible decreases in semen parameters in healthy men.
99 citations
,
October 2006 in “BMC clinical pharmacology” This preliminary study suggests that finasteride might cause depressive symptoms, indicating the need for cautious prescription in patients at high risk for depression.
48 citations
,
February 2006 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology” This study found that dual 5α-reductase inhibitors in rats decreased sperm quality and led to reduced pregnancy success, suggesting potential for use in male contraception.
34 citations
,
January 2004 in “Revista do Hospital das Clínicas” The authors reported that young men with infertility-related conditions experienced improved seminal quality after stopping finasteride, suggesting potential adverse effects on fertility during treatment.
104 citations
,
October 1999 in “The Journal of Urology” This study concluded that daily treatment with 1 mg finasteride did not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men and had small, reversible effects on prostate volume and serum PSA.
