Baldness Drug Grows Hair But May Cause Sexual Problems

Many men suffering from baldness who have taken the drug satisfactorily report it increases their hair count

Oct 2010

The popular hair growth drug finasteride, commercially known as Propecia, is indeed effective at re-growing hair, but it may lead to sexual dysfunction in some users.

Many men suffering from baldness who have taken the drug satisfactorily report it increases their hair count and makes their hair thicker. But a new study shows that 1 in 80 of those men has also experienced erectile dysfunction, a known potential side effect.

The study, conducted by researchers at Hospital Aleman in Buenos Aires and published in the Archives of Dermatology, involved the analysis of a dozen studies on the drug involving nearly 4,000 men.

The good news? Most men who take finasteride experience a 30 percent improvement in hair growth in two years.

The bad news is that thick head of hair might also be accompanied by some new problems in the bedroom.

Interestingly enough, most men experiencing sexual side effects were not inclined to stop taking the drug, showing men's definite preference for a full head of hair over high performance between the sheets.

Dr. Patricia Farris, a board-certified dermatologist in Metairie, La., told AOL Health she prescribes finasteride to male patients experiencing hair loss and has occasionally seen a patient experience sexual side effects.

"The statistic [in this study] suggests a less than 2 percent incidence, so it is not common," she adds. "My experience is that such side effects resolve when the medication is discontinued."

Half of men will experience pattern hair loss by age 50. For those who take finasteride, the drug works by blocking the enzyme that changes testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, the hormone that leads to hair loss.

Most dermatologists who treat hair loss feel the drug is safe and effective. And since side effects like erectile dysfunction seem to resolve when treatment stops, men who try finasteride need not fear permanent loss of sexual function, experts say.

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