82 citations
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May 2016 in “Best Practice & Research in Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology”
The conclusion is that managing androgen excess requires long-term treatment, including hormonal contraceptives and androgen blockers, with follow-up after six months.
The user tried Minoxidil without success, and Finasteride worked but caused sexual side effects even at a very low dose. They are seeking alternative treatments for hair loss as they cannot tolerate anti-androgens and are also in therapy for mental health.
Hair loss treatments discussed include Minoxidil, Finasteride, RU58841, Alfatradiol, and Eucapil. Topical treatments must penetrate skin and may go systemic, with effectiveness varying.
After switching from finasteride to dutasteride, the user experienced a 25% increase in total testosterone and a 150% increase in free testosterone, with side effects like brain fog and nipple tingling. The user plans to consult a lab for accuracy and adjust the dutasteride dosage to manage side effects.
The post and conversation are about the user's high testosterone levels and their worsening hair loss despite trying various treatments. They are considering using low doses of anti-androgens to lower their testosterone levels as a potential solution.
How Finasteride and Dutasteride help reduce hair loss by reducing the amount of DHT in scalp areas, as well as discussing factors such as sensitivity to DHT, 5α-reductase expression in different parts of the hair follicle, and scalp tension.