Finasteride is a safe and effective long-term treatment for male hair loss, especially when started early.
April 2016 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride and SSRIs together increase impotence and low libido risk in men.
August 2024 in “medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)” Finasteride has various adverse effects, including sexual dysfunction and mental health issues, which vary by age and gender.
November 2023 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy” Finasteride and dutasteride are effective in treating male hair loss but can cause sexual side effects and birth defects.
January 2023 in “Mastology” Hormone therapy for breast cancer often leads to sexual issues like vaginal dryness and decreased libido.
125 citations,
January 1999 in “Drugs” Finasteride effectively treats baldness but may cause sexual side effects.
19 citations,
October 2018 in “PLOS ONE” 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors can slightly improve symptoms of enlarged prostate but have a high risk of sexual side effects.
May 1963 in “American journal of obstetrics and gynecology” Injecting 2 ml of TEEV every 4 weeks is better because it has the same benefits but fewer side effects.
11 citations,
March 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some men taking finasteride for hair loss may experience sexual problems like erectile dysfunction and decreased sex drive, which can persist even after stopping the medication.
June 2018 in “Evidence-Based Practice” Finasteride can double the risk of sexual problems like ejaculation issues, low libido, and impotence.
50 citations,
March 2017 in “PeerJ” Using finasteride or dutasteride may cause long-lasting erectile dysfunction.
April 2017 in “Actas urológicas españolas” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors increase the risk of sexual dysfunction in patients treating enlarged prostate but not in those treating hair loss.
2 citations,
December 2021 in “International Journal of Andrology” Most legal cases about 5α-reductase inhibitors, drugs for hair loss and prostate issues, complain about side effects and delayed cancer diagnosis, with most lawsuits settled out of court.
44 citations,
July 2011 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Finasteride effectively increases hair growth in men with AGA, works better for those over 30, and may cause some side effects.
November 2014 in “PharmaTutor” Finasteride may help postmenopausal women with hair loss but is not effective for all and should be used cautiously in premenopausal women.
152 citations,
October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology” Finasteride helps hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
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.
June 2021 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride caused serious side effects and led to six suicides.
1 citations,
October 2022 in “Springer eBooks” Testosterone is key for male sexual function, and treating hormone imbalances can improve sexual issues.
November 2020 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride can cause lasting erectile dysfunction, low libido, and depression in some patients.
51 citations,
April 1999 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Testosterone replacement may improve sexual desire and bone health in women with low androgen levels, but more research is needed on its long-term safety.
Finasteride treatment slows down hair loss, boosts hair growth, and may increase hair thickness or length, but it can cause side effects like decreased libido and depression in less than 1% of people.
July 1997 in “The Lancet” Finasteride increased hair count and regrowth in men with hair loss but also caused more sexual side effects than placebo.
105 citations,
January 2004 in “The Journal of Urology” Finasteride improves chronic pelvic pain, saw palmetto doesn't.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride for hair loss in young men increases the risk of sexual dysfunction.
October 2010 in “Journal of Men's Health” Some patients may experience lasting sexual dysfunction, depression, and other side effects from 5α-reductase inhibitor therapy.
October 2010 in “Journal of Men's Health” The conclusion is that doctors should be careful when prescribing 5α-reductase inhibitors due to possible serious side effects, and they should discuss these risks with patients.
11 citations,
August 2014 in “Current Urology Reports” Medications for enlarged prostate can cause sexual side effects like reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory problems.
39 citations,
November 1978 in “Annals of internal medicine” Spironolactone may help reduce excessive hair growth in women with high male hormone levels.
February 2025 in “Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research” The combination of finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil is generally safe for treating male hair loss with minimal side effects.