1er April 2011 – Loss of Libido, Erectile Dysfunction, Difficulty Reaching Orgasm: Men using hair loss medication – finasteride – may experience persistent sexual problems1.
According to Merck Frosst, which markets finasteride under the name Propecia, it is already known that around 8% of patients using the drug are affected by these side effects. However, these sexual disorders would be persistent in 1% of users, estimate the authors of the study.1.
Scientists therefore wanted to measure the extent of this persistence, using 71 men aged 21 to 46, who were taking finasteride against baldness (or alopecia)2.
The first observations indicate that after using the drug for an average of 28 months:
- 94% of patients saw their libido decrease;
- 92% had erectile dysfunction;
- 92% experienced a decrease in arousal;
- 69% had orgasm problems during ejaculation.
On average, these sexual disorders were still felt almost 3 ½ years (40 months) after stopping the medication.
At least 20% of participants still had these symptoms 6 years after stopping treatment.
The researchers also observed a marked decrease in the frequency of sexual acts before and after the use of finasteride. They went from 26 to 9 times per month, respectively3.
In addition, several participants said they suffered from anxiety or depression stemming from the sexual dysfunctions that afflicted them. All said they had experienced a decrease in their quality of life in their intimate relationships.
“The question that arises for many patients is to know if they will one day be able to recover their sexual functions”, indicate the authors of the study.
That is why they recommend that physicians who treat baldness or hair loss fully educate their patients about the risks associated with finasteride.
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Finasteride is an antiandrogenic medicine which is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia4, prostate cancer5, as well as hair loss (or alopecia). |
Martin LaSalle – PasseportSanté.net
1. Irwing MS, Kolukula S, Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss, Journal of sexual medicine, March 18, 2011, doi: 10.1111 / j.1743-6109.2011.02255.x. [Epub ahead of print]
2. See our fact sheet on hair loss (alopecia).
3. The high frequency of sexual acts (before using finastreride) is explained by the fact that several young men said they practice masturbation at least once a day.
4. See our fact sheet on benign prostatic hyperplasia.
5. See our fact sheet on prostate cancer.
