15 citations
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January 2016 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Bee venom helps hair grow and may work better than some common treatments.
2 citations
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January 2025 in “Frontiers in Pharmacology” Purple corn extract may help reduce prostate enlargement and inflammation.
January 2026 in “Yonsei Medical Journal” Finasteride and dutasteride have little effect on Type 2 Diabetes risk.
71 citations
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November 2012 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual side effects like erectile dysfunction and reduced sexual desire, sometimes lasting after stopping the drug.
70 citations
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August 1995 in “Fertility and Sterility” Finasteride reduces hairiness and androgen levels in women with unexplained excessive hair growth.
35 citations
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February 1994 in “Fundamental and applied toxicology” High doses of finasteride cause cell growth and tumors in mice.
31 citations
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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.
3 citations
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September 2020 in “Bladder cancer” 5α-reductase inhibitors don't stop bladder cancer from developing or getting worse.
66 citations
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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.
35 citations
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June 2018 in “Urology” The review suggests younger men taking 1 mg finasteride report more side effects, including sexual, skin, metabolic, and psychological issues.
13 citations
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November 2012 in “PubMed” 5α-reductase inhibitors may worsen sexual drive and spontaneous erections but don't worsen existing erectile or ejaculatory problems.
1 citations
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September 2016 in “Actas Dermo-Sifiliográficas” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may cause sexual side effects, breast complications, and other health risks in men with hair loss.
86 citations
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March 1993 in “Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology” Finasteride affects male rat genitalia development, causing abnormalities during specific pregnancy days.
54 citations
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May 2018 in “International journal of risk & safety in medicine” Antidepressants, 5α-reductase inhibitors, and isotretinoin can cause long-lasting sexual dysfunction.
37 citations
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January 2009 in “Sexual Development” Fadrozole and Finasteride change frog sex ratios and cause intersex animals with altered gene expressions.
33 citations
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January 2016 in “Skin appendage disorders” The document concludes that sexual and psychiatric side effects from 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors are reported, but more high-quality research is needed to understand how often they occur.
25 citations
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November 2015 in “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” Certain Chinese herbs, especially Cacumen platycladi, can promote hair regrowth and reduce hair loss-related hormone levels in mice.
4 citations
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December 2019 in “Minerva Urology and Nephrology” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may reduce bladder cancer recurrence and improve survival.
4 citations
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September 2010 in “Medical Hypotheses”
2 citations
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May 2019 in “PubMed” Oral finasteride and dutasteride may negatively affect erectile function in rats.
December 2025 in “Cureus” Using 5α-reductase inhibitors for hair loss may increase the risk of dry eye disease.
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.
19 citations
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January 2016 in “Annals of Dermatology” Dutasteride is safe and effective for treating hair loss, but may decrease libido.
8 citations
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February 2010 in “Journal of Dermatology” A topical treatment safely and effectively reduced acne by causing targeted cell death in sebaceous glands without side effects.
December 2025 in “International Neurourology Journal” Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors don't significantly increase dementia risk.
27 citations
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May 2015 in “Neuropharmacology” Dutasteride protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's mice, but Finasteride doesn't.
17 citations
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March 2020 in “Frontiers in Chemistry” Compounds from the plant Mammea siamensis may help treat hair loss.
12 citations
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January 1998 in “Endocrine journal” Saw palmetto extract can block the enzyme that converts testosterone in pig prostate cells.
28 citations
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January 1991 in “Reproductive Toxicology” Finasteride temporarily lowers male rat fertility without affecting libido.
26 citations
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September 2018 in “Neurobiology of Disease” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce unwanted movements from Parkinson's disease treatment by normalizing certain brain signals.