A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Finasteride for Male Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (Category IIIA Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis)

This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of finasteride for male chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS). The study involved 76 patients who were randomized to receive either finasteride or a placebo for 6 months. The results showed that although more patients had an improvement in the subjective overall assessment (SOA), total NIH-CPSI, and responder subgroups in the finasteride group than in the placebo group, the results were not statistically significant. Finasteride and placebo were generally well-tolerated. The study concluded that finasteride may benefit some patients with CPPS, but a larger, properly powered study is required to confirm any clinical benefit.