The effects of Finasteride, a drug used to treat hair loss, prostate problems and other conditions. The post by iaskedadoctor describes the conversations they had with a Urologist about the effects of the drug on DHT levels throughout the body, how lower doses are beneficial in reducing side effects, how erectile dysfunction can be psychological as well as physiological, how morning erections are not necessarily important, and how persistent side effects appear to be rare. People also shared their experiences with taking Finasteride for hair loss, including potential side effects such as reduced ejaculate force and development of man boobs.
Hair loss is linked to cellular physiology and the IGF-1 to TGF-B1 ratio, not just androgen sensitivity. The theory lacks evidence, while finasteride and minoxidil are effective treatments.
People have been using finasteride for 10 to 20+ years to maintain their hairline, with many reporting success and no significant side effects. Some users have combined finasteride with minoxidil for better results, and a few have switched to dutasteride or added hair transplants when finasteride was less effective.
A person realized they were balding when their sister pointed it out and is now using a combination of hair loss treatments including finasteride, minoxidil, microneedling, and plans to add dutasteride and RU58841. Others in the conversation emphasize the importance of honesty about hair loss and caution against an overly aggressive treatment regimen, especially before a hair transplant.