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.
19 citations
,
January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” Dutasteride is safe and effective for treating hair loss, but may decrease libido.
16 citations
,
September 2018 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Plant-based remedies may treat hair loss by reducing inflammation and improving insulin resistance.
11 citations
,
December 2018 in “Assay and Drug Development Technologies” Natural herbal compounds might treat certain medical conditions by reducing DHT levels, but more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety.
10 citations
,
October 2018 in “Sexual medicine reviews” Men using hair loss drugs like finasteride may experience sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction, but it's unclear who will be affected and when. Treating depression and sexual symptoms is suggested, as these men often have higher rates of both. More research is needed to understand why these side effects occur.
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.
28 citations
,
August 2003 in “Steroids” Hirsute women have lower type 2 17β-HSD enzyme levels, which improve with treatment.
December 2025 in “International Neurourology Journal” Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors don't significantly increase dementia risk.
72 citations
,
January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design” S5αR inhibitors might help treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders but need more research.
11 citations
,
January 2017 in “Journal of Endocrinology/Journal of endocrinology” Female mice with disrupted 5α-reductase 1 had significant metabolic issues, including stress response problems, insulin resistance, liver fat buildup, and obesity.
8 citations
,
June 2020 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Taking 5α-reductase inhibitors with prednisolone can worsen its negative effects on metabolism.
7 citations
,
April 2015 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Finasteride negatively affects fish reproduction and gonadal development.
5 citations
,
August 2018 in “Sexual Medicine Reviews” 5α-Reductase inhibitors do not consistently increase testosterone levels in the blood.
23 citations
,
July 1993 in “Pharmacotherapy” Finasteride treats enlarged prostate and baldness, but may cause limited urinary improvement and sex-related side effects.
12 citations
,
March 2004 in “Der Urologe” There is no strong evidence that chemopreventive agents effectively prevent prostate cancer.
January 2020 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss can cause lasting sexual, physical, mental, and vascular health issues in men, even after stopping the medication.
215 citations
,
November 2006 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Dutasteride more effective for hair growth, but has more side effects than finasteride.
195 citations
,
February 2007 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Dutasteride and finasteride may reduce sperm count and volume but don't affect movement or shape; effects are reversible after stopping.
21 citations
,
January 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Progesterone byproduct 5αP stimulates mammary tumor growth, but finasteride can suppress it.
1 citations
,
August 2015 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause serious and possibly lasting sexual and psychological side effects.
September 2014 in “Hair transplant forum international” Galenic lotions can effectively treat different patterns of hair thinning in men and women.
75 citations
,
November 1996 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride effectively reduces hair growth in women with idiopathic hirsutism, but requires careful contraception during treatment.
60 citations
,
December 1998 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics” Both drugs lower DHT levels, with GI198745 being more effective.
17 citations
,
August 2011 in “Current Medicinal Chemistry” New treatments for enlarged prostate are being developed, some of which may be more effective than current medications.
43 citations
,
August 2010 in “Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs” Inhibitors of 11β-HSD1 show potential for treating type 2 diabetes but require more testing for safety and effectiveness.
27 citations
,
May 2015 in “Neuropharmacology” Dutasteride protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's mice, but Finasteride doesn't.
3 citations
,
October 1995 in “International Journal of Dermatology” Finasteride helps treat skin issues like acne and baldness by blocking testosterone conversion.
34 citations
,
February 1999 in “Journal of Dermatological Science” Minoxidil boosts enzymes that help hair growth.
4 citations
,
September 2010 in “Medical Hypotheses”
75 citations
,
January 2014 in “Korean Journal of Urology” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause sexual problems, higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer, and depression.