June 2012 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature”
Six new risk spots for early hair loss were found, which also link to Parkinson's disease and lower fertility. Two genes, FOXA2 and HDAC4, could be new treatment targets. Hair loss might also be connected to heart disease, metabolic syndrome, and prostate cancer.
The user is experiencing erectile dysfunction and decreased sperm quality from using Dutasteride for hair loss and is considering stopping it to improve fertility. They are exploring other treatments like Viviscal Men, Minoxidil, Revlan Red System, Fluridil, Nizoral, Stemoxydine, and Eucapil.
The conversation discusses the impact of finasteride on sperm, including potential side effects like decreased ejaculate volume and total sperm count. Users share experiences and concerns about fertility tests before and after starting finasteride.
Long-term use of dutasteride may impair semen volume and sperm motility, but these effects are often reversible after stopping the drug. Individual reactions vary, and more research is needed to understand the long-term impact on fertility.
Dutasteride treatment may decrease sperm concentration, but levels remain above WHO recommendations and recover after discontinuation. The study has limitations, including small sample size and lack of pre-treatment sperm data, and does not assess other fertility factors.
Dutasteride and finasteride may temporarily affect semen quality but are unlikely to cause permanent infertility. The Kim et al. study is criticized for poor methodology, and many prefer hair retention over potential fertility concerns, using treatments like dutasteride, finasteride, and minoxidil.