Male Pattern Balding and Finasteride - and sex
There is a class action suit in B.C. about finateride and men who think it - when taken to prevent baldness - decreased their sexual function.
There are reasons why finasteride might both increase or decrease serum testosterone and libido.
A scientific study found no particular difference between sexual functioning in men who were on finasteride.
Finasteride and sexual functioning
I have had patients who were unaware of the supposed decrease in sexual function who informed me on their own that finasteride temporarily decreased their libido.
I also have a couple of patients who think that it permanently decreased their sexual functioning.
Since finasteride should wear off after a few days I am not aware of a scientific mechanism that would explain this decrease.
Another drug - DUTASTERIDE - works via a similar mechanism of action, and lasts for many weeks. It is more likely that it would cause prolonged decrease in sexual functioning, but only for a period of weeks.
Younger men are the ones who are the most concerned about premature balding. When I inform some of them that there is a theoretical possibilty that finasteride might decrease their libido I have occasionally gotten a response something like
" Wow, that would be great !"
There are reasons why finasteride might both increase or decrease serum testosterone and libido.
A scientific study found no particular difference between sexual functioning in men who were on finasteride.
Finasteride and sexual functioning
I have had patients who were unaware of the supposed decrease in sexual function who informed me on their own that finasteride temporarily decreased their libido.
I also have a couple of patients who think that it permanently decreased their sexual functioning.
Since finasteride should wear off after a few days I am not aware of a scientific mechanism that would explain this decrease.
Another drug - DUTASTERIDE - works via a similar mechanism of action, and lasts for many weeks. It is more likely that it would cause prolonged decrease in sexual functioning, but only for a period of weeks.
Younger men are the ones who are the most concerned about premature balding. When I inform some of them that there is a theoretical possibilty that finasteride might decrease their libido I have occasionally gotten a response something like
" Wow, that would be great !"