Finasteride helps treat male hair loss but may lower sex drive.
June 2026 in “Frontiers in Medicine” 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss can cause mild, reversible sexual side effects in some men.
2 citations
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March 2014 in “European Journal of Chemistry” Method measures tamsulosin and finasteride in medicine accurately.
March 2002 in “Hair transplant forum international” Dutasteride's effect on hair loss treatment is uncertain and should be used cautiously.
3 citations
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August 2021 in “Uro” Saw palmetto may improve urinary symptoms with fewer sexual side effects compared to some medications.
January 2019 in “Urology Practice” Urologists prescribe newer medications more often than primary care physicians, who could benefit from more education on treatment options.
May 2019 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Flibanserin's effectiveness for low sexual desire in premenopausal women may vary based on hormone levels, with normal hormone levels showing better responses.
32 citations
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July 2016 in “PubMed” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors are generally safe but can cause sexual side effects and require patient education on risks.
May 2015 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Young men taking finasteride for hair loss have a higher risk of sexual dysfunction.
22 citations
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August 2014 in “Clinical endocrinology” Taking finasteride for benign prostate hyperplasia may increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially at higher doses.
April 2023 in “European urology open science” Urologists should screen for mental health issues before and during finasteride treatment.
March 2005 in “Current Prostate Reports”
60 citations
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November 2009 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology” Fadrozole and finasteride change gene expression related to sex hormones and thyroid hormones in frog larvae development.
November 2022 in “Hair transplant forum international” Finasteride does not cause sexual dysfunction in men with hair loss.
2 citations
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March 2016 in “The Journal of Urology” Finasteride 1mg linked to diverse symptoms; other treatments improve erectile function in rats.
November 2020 in “Reactions Weekly” Finasteride can cause lasting erectile dysfunction, low libido, and depression in some patients.
1 citations
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August 2024 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” Finasteride is most linked to drug-induced erectile dysfunction.
February 2025 in “Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology” Oral dutasteride is a recommended first treatment for frontal fibrosing alopecia.
January 2005 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride may affect brain chemistry and behavior, offering potential for treating certain mental health conditions.
September 2018 in “The Journal of Urology” 13 citations
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November 2016 in “The Journal of urology/The journal of urology” Dutasteride is as safe for the heart as finasteride.
August 2018 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” July 2013 in “Edinburgh Research Archive (University of Edinburgh)” Dutasteride may reduce insulin sensitivity and increase body fat.
35 citations
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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.
June 2011 in “British Journal of Urology” Regulatory challenges make developing combination therapies in urology difficult and costly.
14 citations
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June 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”
November 2005 in “The Journal of Urology” Dutasteride may lower the chance of finding prostate cancer in men with enlarged prostates.
5 citations
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July 2008 in “The Journal of Urology”
Finasteride reduces prostate size and PSA levels in young patients.
1040 citations
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October 1992 in “The New England Journal of Medicine” Finasteride effectively treats BPH but may increase sexual dysfunction risk.