35 citations,
June 2018 in “Urology” The review suggests younger men taking 1 mg finasteride report more side effects, including sexual, skin, metabolic, and psychological issues.
35 citations,
April 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors slightly increase the risk of sexual and mood side effects, and breast growth in men.
35 citations,
February 2012 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride significantly improves hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
33 citations,
January 2016 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology” Taking 1 mg of finasteride daily can increase hair count and improve hair appearance, but it may have side effects on sexual function and a potential risk of prostate cancer. It may not be effective for postmenopausal women unless taken in higher doses.
33 citations,
January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The document concludes that sexual and psychiatric side effects from 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are reported, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how often they occur.
32 citations,
March 2019 in “Climacteric” Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) can harm women's sexual health, and they may benefit from hormone therapy and counseling.
26 citations,
November 1993 in “Progress in Neuro-psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry” Treatment during development affects hormone balance and sexual behavior in male rats.
21 citations,
April 2016 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Finasteride may cause mental and sexual side effects, with hand preference and sexual orientation possibly affecting severity.
20 citations,
January 2008 in “Reproductive Biomedicine Online” Sexual orientation does not affect the prevalence of PCOS or fertility rates in women undergoing artificial donor insemination.
17 citations,
January 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online” Dutasteride mesotherapy helps treat male hair loss but may harm sperm and sexual function.
13 citations,
September 2018 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Finasteride effectively stops hair loss in most patients, but concerns about rare sexual side effects exist.
13 citations,
June 2018 in “Current Urology Reports” Hair loss drugs may cause sexual issues and infertility in men.
12 citations,
March 2017 in “Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Canada” Testosterone therapy can modestly improve sexual function in menopausal women but should be used cautiously and is not recommended for routine measurement in sexual dysfunction or hirsutism.
8 citations,
July 2018 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” Finasteride can cause lasting sexual dysfunction, depression, and other side effects, needing more research for treatment.
8 citations,
February 2017 in “Clinical Drug Investigation” Finasteride can cause sexual dysfunction and depression, which may persist and require hormonal treatment.
8 citations,
December 2016 in “Revista Medica De Chile” Finasteride can cause sexual dysfunction, sperm changes, and affect bone density and metabolism.
8 citations,
February 2009 in “Current Women's Health Reviews” Testosterone treatment can improve sexual function and bone density in women but may have adverse effects and requires more research on safety and guidelines.
7 citations,
June 2020 in “Translational Andrology and Urology” Finasteride for hair loss may cause lasting sexual, genitourinary, mental, and anti-androgenic side effects in young men.
6 citations,
December 2013 in “Medical Journal of Australia” Bald men are not more virile and may have fewer sexual partners.
6 citations,
September 1998 in “The Journal of The British Menopause Society” Testosterone replacement may help postmenopausal women with sexual function and bone density, but suitable treatments are limited.
5 citations,
January 2020 in “Skin appendage disorders” Oral dutasteride works better for hair loss, but has more sexual side effects; intralesional dutasteride is a possible alternative.
2 citations,
April 2019 in “Journal of Internal Medicine” Men using steroids or finasteride to look more attractive may harm their fertility and sexual function, creating a paradox where they seem fit but may be less able to reproduce.
2 citations,
March 2018 in “Current Opinion in Urology” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual, neurologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular side effects, but these are rare and usually stop after ending treatment.
2 citations,
January 2000 in “Pediatrics in review” Early sexual development in children, especially girls, can be treated with hormone therapy to improve adult height and requires support for the child and family.
1 citations,
August 2022 in “Journal of Dermatological Treatment” Dutasteride is the most effective for hair loss but may cause sexual and mental side effects.
1 citations,
September 2016 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may cause sexual side effects, breast complications, and other health risks in men with hair loss.
1 citations,
January 2015 in “Hair therapy & transplantation” New drug dutasteride effectively treats hair loss, but use cautiously due to potential sexual side effects.
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.
May 2024 in “Brazilian Journal of Hair Health” Finasteride and dutasteride may help prevent hair loss but could cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and psychological issues.
April 2024 in “International journal of impotence research” Some men experience persistent sexual, neurological, and psychological symptoms after stopping finasteride, but evidence of permanent damage is inconclusive.