Men who decide to fight baldness with finasteride may experience sexual dysfunction for months or even years after treatment ends, the Journal of Sexual Medicine reports.
This conclusion was reached by Dr. Michael S. Irwig from George Washington University, who decided to check how long the side effects associated with this drug can last. His studies included 54 young men (mean age 26 years) who developed sexual dysfunction after taking finasteride.
Finasteride is a compound that blocks an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase, which is involved in turning testosterone into the more active form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). It is used in the treatment of prostate hyperplasia and in androgenic alopecia.
According to the ASEX (Arizona Sexual Experience Scale) diagnostic criteria used by the researcher, sexual dysfunction occurred in 89% of participants, but they were not dependent on how long the drug was taken.
Many men who experienced sexual dysfunction side effects lasting at least three months after stopping finasteride continued to experience these problems for months or even years. Patients using the drug for cosmetic purposes should be aware of the risks associated with its side effects, says Irwig. (PAP)
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