Baldness drug linked to sexual problems

The widely used baldness drug finasteride indeed boosts hair growth in men, but some cause sexual problems in some.

Up to half the men experience hair loss (called androgenetic alopecia) by the age of 50 years. Finasteride works by blocking an enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, the hormone responsible for hair loss.

Several studies have investigated the effectiveness of finasteride. However, questions have remained over its potential side effects. To help answer these questions, researchers scanned the medical literature and analysed the findings of 12 studies that included 3927 men.

They found that men with the most common form of baldness who took finasteride were more likely to experience an increase in hair count. There was a 30% improvement after two years. Finasteride has a tendency to maintain and improve hair count over time while being on treatment - the longer the treatment, the better the results. However, finasteride increased the risk of sexual side effects, affecting 1 in 80 men taking the drug. However, men who suffered these sexual side effects were not more likely to stop taking the drug.

The researchers concluded that most men are willing to try the drug, knowing they can just stop taking it if any problems arise. Therefore, patients must discuss their preferences and potential side effects of their treatment modalities with their doctors.