Population-Level Risk of Erectile Dysfunction After Finasteride Use for Androgenetic Alopecia: A National Cohort Analysis

This study investigates the population-level risk of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men using finasteride 1 mg for androgenetic alopecia (AGA) by analyzing data from the Epic COSMOS electronic health record network, which includes over 180 US health systems. The research aims to provide insights into the incidence of ED among men with AGA who initiate finasteride treatment compared to those who do not, using aggregate data to describe incidence patterns rather than establish causality. The study highlights the importance of considering cardiometabolic risk factors associated with AGA when interpreting the relationship between finasteride use and ED, given the heterogeneous reports of sexual adverse effects in existing literature.