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.
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.
29 citations
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July 2012 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Rats had lasting erectile problems after stopping a certain medication.
22 citations
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August 2014 in “Clinical endocrinology” Taking finasteride for benign prostate hyperplasia may increase the risk of osteoporosis, especially at higher doses.
22 citations
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September 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride reduces dihydrotestosterone, increases testosterone, and may treat hirsutism in women.
19 citations
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April 2020 in “Dermatologic Therapy” Dutasteride works better than finasteride for hair loss, with both being safe to use.
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.
17 citations
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December 2018 in “The World Journal of Men s Health” Long-term use of dutasteride can cause permanent erectile dysfunction in rats.
15 citations
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January 2017 in “Experimental Neurology” Finasteride reduces movement issues in Parkinson's disease rats.
15 citations
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July 2016 in “Urologic Clinics of North America” Finasteride and dutasteride are effective for long-term treatment of enlarged prostates but have sexual side effects and a risk of high-grade prostate cancer.
11 citations
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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
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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.
9 citations
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July 2011 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” Hair loss drugs like finasteride may cause lasting sexual and mood side effects, and more research is needed to understand these risks.
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.
6 citations
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May 2020 in “JAMA Ophthalmology” Using 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, drugs for prostate issues and hair loss, may lead to eye abnormalities in men.
6 citations
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January 2018 in “Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety” Starting 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not significantly increase the risk of rhabdomyolysis in older men, but is linked to a higher risk of muscle conditions.
4 citations
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October 2018 in “International Braz J Urol” Taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors does not increase the risk of breast cancer in men.
3 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Medicinal Chemistry” Finasteride may affect PNMT, causing side effects.
3 citations
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August 2020 in “Urology Journal” Using 5-alpha reductase inhibitors may increase the risk of mild depression.
2 citations
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May 2019 in “PubMed” Oral finasteride and dutasteride may negatively affect erectile function in rats.
2 citations
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March 2018 in “Current Opinion in Urology” 5-alpha reductase inhibitors can cause sexual, neurologic, endocrine, and cardiovascular side effects, but these are rare and usually stop after ending treatment.
1 citations
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April 2019 in “Clinical Breast Cancer” Medicines for enlarged prostate may raise the risk of breast growth and tenderness but not breast cancer.
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.
April 2026 in “Quality in Sport” Anabolic-androgenic steroids increase the risk of heart problems.
December 2025 in “International Neurourology Journal” Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors don't significantly increase dementia risk.
January 2024 in “Journal of dermatology and skin science” Topical aprepitant reduces skin rash and hair loss caused by cancer treatment.
32 citations
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January 1990 in “Clinical Endocrinology” Women with female pattern hair loss have higher levels of certain androgens, suggesting increased androgen exposure to hair follicles.
30 citations
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August 1992 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride doesn't affect hormone levels in normal men.
7 citations
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October 2017 in “The Prostate” Baldness in men with prostate cancer is linked to higher levels of certain sex hormones, but chest hair density is not.
1 citations
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September 2023 in “Journal of Education Health and Sport” Anabolic-androgenic steroids are dangerous and educating people about their risks is essential.