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.
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.
33 citations
,
October 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride reduces hair growth and is safe for women with excessive hair.
22 citations
,
September 1994 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism” Finasteride reduces dihydrotestosterone, increases testosterone, and may treat hirsutism in women.
2 citations
,
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.
February 2021 in “International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)” A higher testosterone/dihydrotestosterone ratio in PCOS patients may indicate worse metabolic health.
42 citations
,
February 1998 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” PNU 157706 is a more effective treatment than finasteride for conditions caused by DHT, like enlarged prostate and hair loss.
22 citations
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February 2002 in “Planta Medica” Compounds from Angelica koreana roots, especially osthenol, could be effective for treating conditions like prostate disease and hair loss.
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.
9 citations
,
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.
December 2025 in “International Neurourology Journal” Alpha-blockers and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors don't significantly increase dementia risk.
21 citations
,
January 2010 in “JOURNAL OF HEALTH SCIENCE” Abietic acid from pine resin can effectively inhibit testosterone 5α-reductase.
19 citations
,
May 2014 in “Molecules” Avicequinone C, a compound found in the Avicennia marina plant, can reduce hair loss by inhibiting a hormone linked to androgenic alopecia.
30 citations
,
October 2020 in “Nature Communications” Finasteride irreversibly affects human steroid 5α-reductase 2, providing insight into its catalytic mechanism and disease-related mutations.
1 citations
,
November 2015 in “Cochrane library” 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors help treat urinary symptoms from an enlarged prostate.
December 2023 in “Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry” Stiripentol shows promise as a potential treatment for androgen-related diseases but needs more testing.
23 citations
,
January 2001 in “Chemical & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” New pregnane derivatives are effective at inhibiting an enzyme linked to hair loss and reducing oil gland activity.
4 citations
,
January 2006 in “PubMed” DHT deficiency may disrupt rat epididymis function by affecting estrogen receptors.
20 citations
,
May 2018 in “The Journal of Urology” Men taking 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors before or after bladder cancer diagnosis had a lower risk of dying from the disease.
6 citations
,
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.
68 citations
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April 2002 in “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” Natural 5AR inhibitors effectively improve mild to moderate hair loss in men.
65 citations
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April 2002 in “Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine” Plant extracts effectively reduce hair loss and increase growth, offering a safe alternative treatment.
10 citations
,
January 2017 in “Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine” Some vegetables from Northern Thailand show promise for health benefits, including hair loss treatment and antioxidant properties.
101 citations
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April 1994 in “Baillière's clinical endocrinology and metabolism” 5α-reductase is essential for male sexual development and its inhibitors have potential in treating various conditions related to hormone action.
45 citations
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January 2012 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Too much AKR1C3 enzyme causes resistance to finasteride by increasing testosterone.
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.
January 2022 in “Asian journal of Current Research in Clinical Cancer” Some dibenzo compounds might help treat cancer with fewer side effects.
52 citations
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February 2006 in “Current pharmaceutical design” 5α-reductase inhibitors and alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists together effectively treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, with long-term benefits.
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.
46 citations
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March 2001 in “Journal of endocrinological investigation” 5α-reductase inhibitors, like finasteride and dutasteride, effectively treat BPH, male baldness, and hirsutism, with potential for acne and prostate cancer prevention.