A 24-year-old male using dutasteride for hair loss is worried about its effects on fertility and future children's health. Users advise consulting a doctor, possibly switching to finasteride, or stopping dutasteride before conception due to its impact on sperm count.
A user shared his experience of having two healthy children while continuously using finasteride (Fin) for hair loss, challenging fears about its potential impact on fetal development. The discussion that followed included various perspectives, with some users sharing similar experiences, others expressing concerns about potential risks, and some emphasizing the need for more substantial evidence before drawing conclusions.
There is no permanent cure for hair loss; treatments like finasteride, minoxidil, and hair transplants require ongoing use and are not universally effective. Genetic complexity and financial incentives for ongoing treatments hinder the development of a definitive cure.
Finasteride can affect sperm quality, but fertility usually returns after stopping it, as shown by a user who conceived four months after discontinuation. Some users successfully conceive while on finasteride, though some prefer to pause its use to minimize risks.
A user who shared progress pictures of their scalp using a microscope camera, demonstrating the difference between healthy and miniaturized hair. Various explanations for the cause of this were discussed, such as DHT build-up in scalp sebum causing an autoimmune response leading to inflammation and eventual hair loss, with some suggesting a do-it-yourself treatment involving adding ascorbic acid powder to shampoo.