Prospective Randomized Study of Sexual Function in Men Taking Dutasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

April 2018 in “ Journal of Dermatology ”

Tsen-Fang Tsai, Gwang Seong Choi, Beom Joon Kim, Moon-Bum Kim, Chi-Fai Ng, Puja Kochhar, Stacy Jasper, Betsy Brotherton, Barbara Orban, Zrinka Lulic

dutasteride androgenetic alopecia placebo Avodart

TLDR Dutasteride safely treats hair loss without harming sexual function.

A study conducted five years ago on 417 men with androgenetic alopecia found that dutasteride, a medication for hair loss, did not negatively affect sexual function. The men were randomly assigned to receive either dutasteride or a placebo for 24 weeks, and there was no significant difference in sexual function between the two groups. The study concluded that dutasteride was a safe and effective treatment for androgenetic alopecia, with no significant impact on sexual function compared to the placebo group.

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Research cited in this study

9 / 9 results

research Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Dutasteride in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

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Dutasteride safely promotes hair growth and reduces hair loss, with mild side effects.

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A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

research A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

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Dutasteride 0.5 mg works better than finasteride and placebo for increasing hair in men with hair loss.

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: Could They Be Permanent?

112 citations, July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Finasteride may cause long-lasting sexual side effects.

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss

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.

Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

research Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

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.

Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dutasteride 0.5 mg Once Daily in Male Patients with Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study

research Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dutasteride 0.5 mg Once Daily in Male Patients with Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study

92 citations, June 2010 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride 0.5 mg daily improves hair growth safely in men with hair loss.

research Finasteride 5mg and Sexual Side Effects: How Many Are Related to a Nocebo Phenomenon?

225 citations, July 2007 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Knowing about finasteride's sexual side effects increases reported dysfunction.

The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

215 citations, November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology”

Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.

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research Sexual Problems of Men With Androgenic Alopecia Treated With 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors

10 citations, October 2018 in “Sexual medicine reviews”

Men using hair loss drugs like finasteride may experience sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction, but it's unclear who will be affected and when. Treating depression and sexual symptoms is suggested, as these men often have higher rates of both. More research is needed to understand why these side effects occur.

research Prospective Randomized Study of Sexual Function in Men Taking Dutasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

11 citations, April 2018 in “Journal of Dermatology”

Dutasteride safely treats hair loss without harming sexual function.

research Sexual Adverse Effects of Finasteride 1mg for Treatment of Androgenic Alopecia in Men

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.

research Oral Finasteride Presents With Sexual-Unrelated Withdrawal in Long-Term Treated Androgenic Alopecia in Men

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.

research Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

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.

Prospective Randomized Study of Sexual Function in Men Taking Dutasteride for the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

Research cited in this study

research Long-Term Safety and Efficacy of Dutasteride in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia

research Persistent Sexual Dysfunction and Suicidal Ideation in Young Men Treated with Low-Dose Finasteride: A Pharmacovigilance Study

research A Randomized, Active- and Placebo-Controlled Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Different Doses of Dutasteride Versus Placebo and Finasteride in the Treatment of Male Subjects with Androgenetic Alopecia

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride: Could They Be Permanent?

research Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss

research Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, and Depression in a Subset of Patients

research Efficacy, Safety, and Tolerability of Dutasteride 0.5 mg Once Daily in Male Patients with Male Pattern Hair Loss: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Study

research Finasteride 5mg and Sexual Side Effects: How Many Are Related to a Nocebo Phenomenon?

research The Importance of Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibition in the Treatment of Male Pattern Hair Loss: Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Study of Dutasteride Versus Finasteride

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