Propecia (Finasteride) & Erectile Dysfunction: For over 20 years, doctors have prescribed the drug finasteride to treat hair loss. Marketed under the brand name Propecia, the medication has shown particular success in men in treating baldness. Studies show that men using finasteride show a 30% reduction in hair loss when taking the drug. If a patient suspends use, however, the effects of the drug wear off, and hair loss resumes at a higher rate. Unfortunately, doctors have now liked the drug finasteride to erectile dysfunction.
A new study at the University of Milan has also confirmed the bad news for men using finasteride. Performed over three years, the research has confirmed what some doctors have long suspected—the use of finasteride can result in erectile dysfunction in men. Scientists observed that discontinuing the use of finasteride after using it for several years can result in hormone imbalance. This newfound hormone imbalance has extreme ramifications: not only does hair loss resume in patients who have used finasteride, but discontinuing the drug also creates a decreased libido. At least 25% of the men who participated in the study reported trouble achieving an erection after discontinuing the use of finasteride.
Article Update July 2022
In addition to erectile dysfunction, Propecia or Finasteride is also known to cause the following side effects:
- Decreased libido
- Ejaculatory complications
- Swelling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
- Breast tenderness or swelling
- Male breast cancer
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Skin rash or hives
- Weakness
Finasteride, Erectile Dysfunction, Nerve Damage, & More
Doctors also discovered nerve damage resulting from finasteride use. The study identified measurable damage to the pudendal nerve, the nerve which links the brain to the genitals. In men, damage to this nerve can result in lifelong difficulty achieving an erection. Scientists in the study link the neurological damage to the use of the drug finasteride. Furthermore, the same study also found other complications of drug use, including sleeplessness. At least half the patients studied also reported severe depression after using the drug.
An Alternative:
With these less than pleasing results, patients considering medications to treat baldness may want to consider alternatives. The drug Rogaine also shows particular success in preventing hair loss without the side effects. For patients hesitant to commit to a lifetime of hair loss medication use, Dr. Umar’s patented Dr. UGraft FUE procedure has much better results in treating even the most severe hair loss cases.
Patients need not suffer the effects of even moderate hair loss in this day and age. Men suffering hair loss also shouldn’t risk complications of sexual dysfunction or depression by using unsafe medications to treat hair loss. The DrUGraft procedure offers a safe, permanent, and effective method of restoring hair to a complete and natural look. Patients concerned with hair loss shouldn’t waste time or risk complications.
Contact Dr. Umar for a free hair loss treatment consultation today!
References
- —. “Erectile Dysfunction.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 7 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erectile_dysfunction.
