December 2023 in “International Journal of Biomedicine” Topical finasteride might help with male hair loss with fewer side effects than pills, but more research is needed.
75 citations
,
January 2014 in “Korean Journal of Urology” 5α-reductase inhibitors can cause sexual problems, higher risk of aggressive prostate cancer, and depression.
66 citations
,
April 2017 in “International Journal of Andrology” Men taking 5α-reductase inhibitors for enlarged prostate have a higher chance of experiencing reduced sexual desire and erectile dysfunction.
11 citations
,
August 2014 in “Current Urology Reports” Medications for enlarged prostate can cause sexual side effects like reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, and ejaculatory problems.
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.
8 citations
,
April 2022 in “Urology Practice” Patients should consult urologists for evidence-based erectile dysfunction treatments.
8 citations
,
January 2017 in “Fertility and Sterility” Urologic diseases and treatments in older men can negatively affect fertility, and doctors should talk to patients about this.
3 citations
,
July 1997 in “The Lancet” Finasteride may increase hair growth and prevent baldness in men, but can cause sexual side effects.
2 citations
,
May 2019 in “PubMed” Oral finasteride and dutasteride may negatively affect erectile function in rats.
June 2024 in “Georgetown medical review” Finasteride treats hair loss but may cause low libido, erectile issues, and depression.
July 1997 in “The Lancet” A new protein linked to Alzheimer's was discovered, and a hair loss treatment showed effectiveness but had some sexual side effects.
July 1997 in “The Lancet” Finasteride increased hair count and regrowth in men with hair loss but also caused more sexual side effects than placebo.
February 2023 in “Sexual Medicine Reviews”
658 citations
,
June 2003 in “Endocrine reviews” Male hormones may play a role in the development of heart disease, and more research is needed to understand their effects.
393 citations
,
November 2000 in “Archives of General Psychiatry” Testosterone is important for men's sexual function, may help some women's sexual desire, while other hormones and neurotransmitters also play complex roles in sexual behavior.
117 citations
,
August 2008 in “Sociology of Health and Illness” The conclusion is that the increasing use of drugs for lifestyle reasons is a complex issue influenced by corporate profit, consumer behavior, and the medicalization of everyday life, with potential negative effects on personal well-being.
77 citations
,
June 2015 in “Nature Reviews Urology” Some common medications can harm male fertility, but many effects can be reversed.
57 citations
,
July 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” 5α-reductase inhibitors increase the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in men with enlarged prostate.
47 citations
,
January 2021 in “Fertility and Sterility” COVID-19 might affect male fertility, but more research is needed to understand the full impact.
46 citations
,
August 2022 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” COVID-19 temporarily affects male reproductive health, but sperm and testosterone levels generally return to normal after three months.
44 citations
,
October 2010 in “BJUI” 5-α-reductase inhibitors reduce prostate cancer risk but may cause sexual dysfunction and don't affect high-grade tumor or death rates.
39 citations
,
January 2012 in “Indian Dermatology Online Journal” Finasteride may cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction, but they are reversible and affect less than 2% of men.
35 citations
,
June 2018 in “Urology” The review suggests younger men taking 1 mg finasteride report more side effects, including sexual, skin, metabolic, and psychological issues.
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.
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
,
November 2015 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” α-Blockers and 5-ARIs for BPH can cause sexual dysfunction, including erectile and ejaculatory issues.
13 citations
,
June 2018 in “Current Urology Reports” Hair loss drugs may cause sexual issues and infertility in men.
11 citations
,
June 2018 in “Sexual medicine reviews” Stromal Vascular Fraction might help with male sexual dysfunction, but more research is needed to confirm its safety and effectiveness.
3 citations
,
July 2021 in “Aesthetic Plastic Surgery” PHAT may improve hair growth better than PRP alone.
1 citations
,
May 2025 in “The Journal of Phytopharmacology” Phytoandrogens from plants may help treat low testosterone naturally.