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.
19 citations
,
September 2016 in “Pharmacotherapy” This study found that the risk of persistent sexual dysfunction was higher in men who stopped using finasteride 1 mg compared to omeprazole users.
10 citations
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December 2014 in “PubMed” This review examines reports of prolonged sexual dysfunction and depression associated with finasteride for male pattern hair loss, concluding that significant biases exist and further rigorous trials are needed to assess risks.
9 citations
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July 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This article examines 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors and their link to persistent sexual dysfunction, but it reports no new clinical findings.
March 2008 in “European Urology Supplements” Finasteride and dutasteride can affect sexual function in BPH patients.
April 2022 in “The Journal of Urology” In this study, men with persistent sexual dysfunction after stopping finasteride showed significant vascular, neurologic, and hormonal abnormalities, with severe erectile dysfunction being common.
December 2015 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Finasteride, a hair loss treatment, may cause long-term sexual dysfunction and depression.
February 2012 in “European Urology Supplements” Finasteride for hair loss may cause long-lasting sexual side effects in young males.
February 2025 in “International Urology and Nephrology” In this study, mild improvements in erectile function, penile sensitivity, and nocturnal erections were observed in male patients with post-drug syndrome following a 16-week treatment targeting the peripheral nerves of the genitalia, but significant symptoms persisted, indicating further research is essential.
112 citations
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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.
54 citations
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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.
185 citations
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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.
81 citations
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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.
3 citations
,
February 2013 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” In this article, Irwig reported that sexual side effects of finasteride persist in 96% of patients even after stopping the medication, raising concerns about potential permanence.
223 citations
,
December 2010 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” This review discusses persistent adverse effects of 5α‐reductase inhibitors, like diminished libido and erectile dysfunction, in some patients and highlights the need for patient discussions before therapy, especially for androgenetic alopecia.
1 citations
,
June 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride use may cause sexual dysfunction; more research needed.
June 2011 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” Finasteride, a hair loss drug, can cause long-lasting sexual side effects like low libido and erectile dysfunction.
June 2017 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride's sexual side effects not caused by androgen deficiency or SRD5A inhibition.
October 2021 in “International Journal of Andrology” This paper reports on the controversy surrounding post-finasteride syndrome and questions Merck and the FDA's handling of associated sexual side effects. Despite significant adverse event reports, both entities failed to conduct further studies or enhance patient safety warnings about finasteride's long-term effects.
This hypothesis paper suggests that sexual and cognitive dysfunctions reported by some men after using finasteride and dutasteride may stem from vascular and tissue changes in penile tissue triggering broader inflammatory effects.
24 citations
,
December 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” This review discusses persistent sexual and nonsexual adverse effects of the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride in younger men, including erectile dysfunction, low libido, and depression. It reports no new clinical results but emphasizes further research is needed.
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.
February 2021 in “The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update” Finasteride use in young people may increase risk of suicidal thoughts and mental health issues.
November 2020 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride use linked to increased suicidality in patients under 45.
November 2023 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” This study suggests that post-finasteride syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction share potential etiopathogenetic mechanisms involving brain modulators, neurotransmitters, and gut microbiota, although more research is needed to understand these conditions fully.
January 2020 in “Archives of urology” This review discusses concerns about persistent side effects of finasteride, such as sexual dysfunction and suicidal ideation, urging the medical community to recognize and address these issues.
February 2026 in “Journal of Psychosexual Health” This case report describes a 26-year-old man who experienced persistent sexual dysfunction and other symptoms for 19 months after stopping finasteride for androgenetic alopecia. The authors highlight post-finasteride syndrome's impact on quality of life and stress the need for careful risk-benefit assessment before prescribing.
April 2026 in “Journal of Clinical Medicine” In this study, men with previous finasteride use reported more severe sexual and psychological symptoms with greater cumulative exposure and older age, highlighting a need for further research on risk factors and long-term impacts.
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.
15 citations
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November 2015 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” This review discusses sexual dysfunction as a side effect of α-blockers and 5-ARIs for BPH/LUTS, highlighting methodological flaws in existing studies and the need for more rigorous research.