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.
15 citations
,
November 2015 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” α-Blockers and 5-ARIs for BPH can cause sexual dysfunction, including erectile and ejaculatory issues.
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
,
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.
6 citations
,
December 2013 in “Medical Journal of Australia” Bald men are not more virile and may have fewer sexual partners.
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.
March 2023 in “Revista Chilena de Urología” Post-finasteride syndrome can cause sexual and systemic side effects, and patients should be informed about these risks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
March 2000 in “The Journal of pharmacy technology” Finasteride effectively treats mild to moderate hair loss in men aged 18-41, with some side effects.
235 citations
,
September 2004 in “The Journal of urology/The journal of urology” Drugs that block DHT production can effectively treat enlarged prostate and improve urinary issues with some sexual side effects.
78 citations
,
December 2008 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction, but the exact reasons are unclear.
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.
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.
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.