11 citations
,
March 2019 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Some men taking finasteride for hair loss may experience sexual problems like erectile dysfunction and decreased sex drive, which can persist even after stopping the medication.
6 citations
,
October 2024 in “Basic and Clinical Andrology” PRP injections are not proven effective for treating erectile dysfunction.
4 citations
,
May 2024 in “Biomolecules” Zinc and copper levels may affect erectile dysfunction by influencing hormone levels.
4 citations
,
April 2020 in “Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy” Prostate cancer patients need early psychological and sexual support during radiotherapy to improve their quality of life.
November 2025 in “Australian Journal of General Practice” Oral finasteride and topical minoxidil can regrow hair, but finasteride may affect fertility.
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.
81 citations
,
June 2014 in “American Journal of Men's Health” Finasteride can cause lasting sexual, emotional, and cognitive issues, with varying severity.
17 citations
,
September 2020 in “Journal of Endocrinological Investigation” Post-finasteride patients show changes in gut bacteria, possibly causing various symptoms.
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.
2 citations
,
April 2019 in “Journal of Internal Medicine” Men using steroids or finasteride to look more attractive may harm their fertility and sexual function, creating a paradox where they seem fit but may be less able to reproduce.
2 citations
,
May 2017 in “Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)” Topical minoxidil 5% can cause erectile dysfunction and decreased libido.
June 2024 in “Georgetown medical review” Finasteride treats hair loss but may cause low libido, erectile issues, and depression.
May 2024 in “Deleted Journal” Dutasteride effectively treats hair loss in men who don't respond to finasteride.
May 2024 in “Brazilian Journal of Hair Health” Finasteride and dutasteride may help prevent hair loss but could cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and psychological issues.
November 2023 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” Some people experience lasting sexual, psychological, and sleep problems after using finasteride or SSRI antidepressants, possibly due to similar underlying causes.
October 2010 in “Journal of Men's Health” The conclusion is that doctors should be careful when prescribing 5α-reductase inhibitors due to possible serious side effects, and they should discuss these risks with patients.
May 2022 in “Endocrine Abstracts” Finasteride may cause sexual dysfunction by reducing epinephrine levels.
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.
31 citations
,
January 2017 in “Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology” Low testosterone and 5α-reductase inhibitors can harm men's metabolic and sexual health; testosterone therapy may help, but discussing 5α-RIs' side effects is important.
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.
152 citations
,
October 2010 in “Archives of Dermatology” Finasteride helps hair growth but may cause sexual side effects.
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.
58 citations
,
April 2017 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Post-finasteride patients show changed neuroactive steroid levels, possibly causing erectile dysfunction and depression.
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
,
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.
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.
11 citations
,
January 2018 in “Asian Journal of Andrology” Dutasteride caused more penile tissue changes than finasteride, possibly increasing erectile dysfunction risk.
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.