Propecia or finasteride is a very popular drug employed to treat hair loss. Finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, widely used in the medical management of male pattern hairloss, has been reported to cause sexual side effects.
More specifically, Propecia is just a hair loss drug, however it comes with severe side effects such as for instance an increased danger of getting prostate cancer plus a number of sexual unwanted effects such as impotence problems, decreased libido and ejaculation problems.
Studies of the potential sexual side-effects of finasteride continued in the years that followed the 1992 report; however, the findings are not given much public attention because those using the drug had been mostly older men with enlarged prostates, making them more prone to underlying sexual dysfunction.
The research, published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, reveals that finasteride-an antiandrogen that treats hair loss and is found in popular male pattern baldness drug Propecia-can cause persistent intimate dysfunction, including low sexual desire, erectile dysfunction and difficulties with orgasms.
More serious concern is that the sexual dysfunction triggered by Propecia might be permanent.
Why does the Propecia label still claim all instances of erectile dysfunction and reduced libido went away in men who stopped taking PROPECIA?
Nobody these days believes drug organizations exist for the benefit of mankind — they’re all just profit-seeking enterprises that spend more on advertising than research — but many assume the businesses at least bother about getting sued.
In many methods, the mechanism of finasteride is very easy: it inhibits the production of testosterone, a male sex hormone, and therefore it decreases the problems of high testosterone or testosterone sensitivity (male hair loss, prostate enlargement) while creating the same problems as if a person had low testosterone (decreased lean muscle mass and sexual function, impotence).
Unfortunately, many unsuspecting guys concerned about hair thinning do not know that using Propecia can result in side effects far more devastating than a bald spot.
The research cannot tell us overall what proportion of men whom just take finasteride for male pattern baldness will experience persistent sexual part effects after stopping the drug.
Subjects reported new-onset persistent sexual dysfunction associated with the use of finasteride Propecia: 94% developed low libido, 92% developed erectile dysfunction, 92% developed decreased arousal, and 69% developed problems with orgasm.” The study also found that the average number of sexual episodes per month was lower and the total sexual dysfunction score increased according to the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (P < 0.0001 for both).” The average length of Propecia use was 28 months and the average duration of persistent sexual side effects was 40 months from the time of discontinuation. (1)
This same study found that most men who developed persistent sexual side effects lasting =3 months with the use of Propecia continued to experience erectile dysfunction for many months or years despite stopping the drug, which lead the researcher to suggest the possibility that the dysfunction may be permanent. (2)
Using natural DHT blockers vs Propecia
If your short pattern baldness is infact caused by DHT then there are different treatments that you can use to improve your scalp and skin conditions to foster better hair growth and improve natural hair production.
An added bonus is that DHT blockers have also been shown to significantly increase prostate health, so a natural treatment for hair loss also works as a safe preventative for prostate problems.
1. Saw Palmetto – This is a berry-producing plant native to the Americas, and one which is believed to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. This is the enzyme responsible for the conversion of testosterone to DHT, and therefore acts as a preemptive DHT blocker.
If you’re dead against finasteride there are other touted DHT blockers (besides Saw Palmetto too) but they’re poorly documented because they’re not strictly for hairloss; there is no common consensus on dosage or statistics on side effects, so in essence I’d say they’re even riskier than finasteride.
The best natural DHT blocker and best alternative to Propecia in our opinion is Profollica. Profollica™ is a standout product in the hair regrowth industry. Because rather than simply “cleaning” the scalp, Profollica™ uses the latest medical research to deal with the root cause of men’s hair loss: excess DHT (dihydrotestosterone)!
But there’s more to hair regrowth than just inhibiting DHT production. That’s why most Saw Palmetto and other touted natural DHT blockers based hair loss pills don’t work.
Medical experts with experience of treating male pattern baldness have found that combining Propecia with Minoxidil enhances the treatment, producing faster results. Profollica has come up with a siilar treatment plan, but MUCH safer and still effective.
You also need to create a prime environment for hair regrowth. That’s why Profollica™ has evolved into a very effective three-step hair regrowth system:
Step #1 — Inhibits The Production of Excess DHT with a daily supplement that nourishes the body with a patented, medically approved formulation of 100% natural herbals.
Step #2 — Eliminates Harmful Scalp Bacteria with our scalp purifying shampoo that actually helps to gently eliminate more serious scalp issues like dandruff, psoriasis, oily hair, itchy scalp and MORE!
Step #3 — Encourages FAST, Healthy Growth with the follicle stimulator (a.k.a. The Activator Gel), which is sprayed at the roots of the hair after each shampoo. The Activator Gel w/Trichogen is gently massaged throughout hair and down to the scalp, and then left in (don’t wash it out). In 90 percent of users, the site claims, this has been “clinically proven to visibly improve hair growth, promote a healthier growth phase, [and] actively block the formulation of DHT.”
Unlike other natural DHT blockers, Profollica™ contains not just one or two natural ingredients, but a proprietary formula that tackles the problem of male pattern baldness head on. When applied according to the instructions, expect hair loss to come to a dead stop and at the same time your hair follicles will receive stimulation, leading to regrowth.
2. Procerin is our second choice after Profollica™.
It also contains Saw Palmetto Extract and other natural DHT blockers such as Beta Sitosterol and Gotu Kola, pumpkin seeds and Siberian Ginseng so this particular serum is packed with ingredients that are well known for blocking DHT and promoting hair growth.
Although pumpkin seed oil will not be something that springs to mind when people think about hair regeneration, the truth is that there is quite a lot of quality evidence to suggest that it can act as a good natural DHT blocker due to it containing the steroid delta-7 stearine, which may compete with DHT production.
Procerin, with Saw Palmetto, Magnesium, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin B-6, Pyroxidine 5mg, CJ-11 Factor, CJ-9 Factor, and a proprietary blend of Gotu Kola, Nettles, Pumpkin seed meal, Siberian Ginseng, Yohimbe, Muira Puma Root, Uwa Ursi and more as its ingredients, is a mix of natural DHT blockers, vitamins and herbal/mineral supplements.
Regardless of whether you are combating thin hair as a result of age or male pattern baldness or due to DHT dihydrotestosterone levels, another type of illness, Procerin’s DHT blocker shampoo and anti-DHT product is proven to work.
3. Hair Restoration laboratories DHT blocker shampoo
This shampoo contains topical Natural DHT blockers Baicapil, Propolis, Sepicap MP, Saw Palmetto, Licorice Extract to help reduce hair loss.
The proprietary blend of ingredients in DHT blocker shampoo includes Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, Argan oil, Tea tree oil, Caffeine, Keratin, Biotin, Saw Palmetto and a number of natural DHT blockers and essential and natural rejuvenating oils and ingredients all proven to nourish problematic balding areas on the scalp and help to stimulate hair regrowth.
4. Extra Strength Saw Palmetto Supplement for MEN (Hair loss and Prostate Health) –
Prostate Support Formula to Reduce Frequent Urination and DHT Blocker to Prevent Hair Loss.
5. Groganics DHT Grow Thick Hair Fattening Shampoo is a naturally-made hair loss shampoo that promotes clean, healthy hair and is also an effective DHT dihydrotestosterone blocker. Find out more.
6. Advanced Trichology DHT Blocker for Men and Women are made from natural ingredients like pumpkin seed, saw palmetto, Pygeum extract, and pumpkin seed.
By providing ingredients including Saw Palmetto, and Pygeum Africanum that help block DHT a hormone that causes 95% of the hair loss in men and women, this is also a top of the line natural DHT Blocker.
There is uncertainty about the explanation of why Pygeum extract works, but it has demonstrated to be a very effectual hair loss treatment with negligible risk of side effects.
User reviews on Propecia & alternatives
I accepted Propecia treatment to improve the thickness of my hair based on information corroborated by Merck and my doctor that side effects are extremely rare and not permanent, however, that has proven to not be the case.
I have had some side-effects e.g. erectile problems, libido issues, lethargy, constantly dozing off at any time of the day etc., after taking this prostate medication for one year.
I have been taking 1mg finasteride medication for the past 4 years for male pattern baldness and have had pretty good results both in maintaining and regrowing new hair.
I take a DHT blocker, use a good anti hair loss shampoo and massage my scalp three times a week with an infra red massage machine…..
I would be shocked to see somebody with hair loss that had a healthy scalp pH so adding (quality) lactobacillus probiotics to your diet along with healing a leaky gut (many resources on the internet tell you how to do that) will not only alter skin pH to a healthy level but stop the chronic inflammation which, as is so rightly mentioned in this article, the catalyst for every disease/condition which we develop.
I have recently seen an increasing number of men who have developed significant degrees of clinical hypogonadism – low sex drive, erectile dysfunction, reduced sexual sensations and listlessness, fatigue and/or “brain fog” – while either taking finasteride or after stopping the medication, even long after stopping it.
I don’t recommend using natural minoxidil because it usually doesn’t have the same effect that other baldness treatments have.
I was a long time propecia user (8 years) starting at the age of 22. Since beginning I’ve had side effects, though they were pretty mild and so I didn’t worry too much about them.
I always recommend having your scalp checked by a dermatologist to determine the exact cause of your hair loss.
I did hear some interesting facts on a treatment called ‘Trichagen’, but I suspect that if this treatment works, then we have to deal with the possibilities of side-effects.
I still use Rogaine, but in my opinion it only slows hair loss and does not stop it, or re-grow hair.
I dont really want to put like 10 different oils every day + fancy shampoons and so on. I want to use 1 simple method involving shampoo and maybe some topical mixture.
I don’t have any issues with libido (been on finasteride for about 2 months now), but I have noticed reduced sensation when I have an orgasm and until recently I felt like my penis was just a rubber thing attached to my body, but that feeling is going and my orgasms are slowly returning back to normal.
Dr. Irwig says it is crucial physicians treating male pattern hair loss discuss the possibility of persistent sexual side effects associated with finasteride with their patients.. Although the generally rare sexual side effects of finasteride and dutasteride have been mentioned at urology meetings, information about potentially irreversible consequences hasn’t yet reached the larger community of prescribing physicians, such as dermatologists and primary care doctors – or their patients, said researcher Abdulmaged M. Traish, a professor of biochemistry and urology at Boston University School of Medicine.
Since women are CAUTIONED AGAINST using Propecia (1mg finasteride) due to potential side effects that may affect foetus development and cause birth defects, saw palmetto may seem to be a natural alternative for women who are suffering from hair loss. The proprietary blend of natural ingredients – including saw palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, and beta sitosterol – have been demonstrated in numerous trials to help reduce pattern hair loss in men.
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