33 citations
,
January 2009 in “Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery” Finasteride reduces prostate cancer risk but may affect ejaculatory volume and requires careful consideration for young men.
28 citations
,
November 2017 in “Molecular and cellular endocrinology” Testosterone and its byproducts help support male sexual behavior through different pathways in the brain and body.
26 citations
,
December 2023 in “Prostate International” Medications for BPH can have significant side effects, so understanding these risks is important for treatment decisions.
21 citations
,
January 2017 in “Dermatology Online Journal” Finasteride and dutasteride can cause sexual problems like impotence and low libido.
19 citations
,
October 2018 in “PLOS ONE” 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors can slightly improve symptoms of enlarged prostate but have a high risk of sexual side effects.
17 citations
,
January 2013 in “Our Dermatology Online” Dutasteride mesotherapy helps treat male hair loss but may harm sperm and sexual function.
15 citations
,
January 2018 in “Acta dermato-venereologica” Finasteride and dutasteride increase sexual dysfunction risk by 1.57 times in male hair loss treatment.
15 citations
,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” 5α-Reductase inhibitors can negatively affect male sexual function and, in some cases, significantly reduce sperm count, but these effects may be reversible.
6 citations
,
December 2013 in “Medical Journal of Australia” Bald men are not more virile and may have fewer sexual partners.
4 citations
,
June 2025 in “Current Urology Reports” New BPH treatments have low sexual dysfunction risk but may not improve urinary symptoms as much as traditional surgery.
2 citations
,
January 2010 Finasteride helps improve hair growth in men with hair loss but may increase the risk of erectile dysfunction.
1 citations
,
July 2023 in “F&S Reviews” Some common medications may harm male fertility by affecting hormones, sperm production, and sexual function.
1 citations
,
August 2015 in “Current Sexual Health Reports” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause serious and possibly lasting sexual and psychological side effects.
February 2025 in “Journal of Pre-Clinical and Clinical Research” The combination of finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil is generally safe for treating male hair loss with minimal side effects.
February 2024 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” 5-α reductase inhibitors do not significantly affect male reproductive function but may reduce semen volume.
March 2021 in “CRC Press eBooks” Hair loss without scarring is more common than permanent hair loss with scarring, and is often due to genetic factors.
October 2017 in “The Journal of Urology” Finasteride reduces the need for prostate surgery but may increase the risk of depression and persistent sexual side effects.
March 2014 in “The Journal of Urology” Long-term treatment with finasteride or combined therapy worsens sexual function in men with urinary issues.
February 2013 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Using hair loss drugs finasteride and dutasteride may cause sexual side effects.
Finasteride treatment slows down hair loss, boosts hair growth, and may increase hair thickness or length, but it can cause side effects like decreased libido and depression in less than 1% of people.
April 2008 in “Sexologies” Knowing about potential side effects can make them more likely to happen.
January 2002 in “European Urology Supplements” Finasteride can cause sexual side effects like decreased libido and erectile dysfunction.
December 2022 in “Scholars journal of applied medical sciences” Dutasteride 0.5mg improves hair growth in 78% of people with hair loss, but may cause sexual problems in some.
February 2019 in “DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals)” Dutasteride is more effective than finasteride for hair growth in men, with similar safety.
June 2018 in “Evidence-Based Practice” Finasteride can double the risk of sexual problems like ejaculation issues, low libido, and impotence.
May 2017 in “Urology and andrology” Finasteride and dutasteride, used for prostate issues and hair loss, can cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and mental issues, which may continue even after stopping the medication, a condition called post-finasteride syndrome, for which there's currently no cure.
January 2017 in “Indian journal of sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS” Finasteride, a hair loss drug, can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction in 2.1%-3.8% of users, but these usually go away with time or if the drug is stopped. Despite this, its impact on sexual function is minimal for most men.
54 citations
,
May 2018 in “International journal of risk & safety in medicine” Antidepressants, 5α-reductase inhibitors, and isotretinoin can cause long-lasting sexual dysfunction.
13 citations
,
June 2018 in “Current Urology Reports” Hair loss drugs may cause sexual issues and infertility in men.
13 citations
,
November 2012 in “PubMed” 5α-reductase inhibitors may worsen sexual drive and spontaneous erections but don't worsen existing erectile or ejaculatory problems.