581 citations
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October 1998 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Finasteride safely and effectively treats male pattern hair loss, but may cause reversible sexual issues and harm male fetuses.
5 citations
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April 2016 in “PubMed” Young men with mild hair loss who experience significant social and emotional distress are more likely to have sexual problems.
10 citations
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February 2020 in “Endocrine” Finasteride safely treats hair loss without harming hormones or reproduction, but may slightly reduce sexual function.
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.
57 citations
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July 2016 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine” 5α-reductase inhibitors increase the risk of sexual dysfunction, especially in men with enlarged prostate.