Is it true that Propecia (aka Finasteride) causes impotence?

[kenz9]

I'm about at a Norwood III-IV and although the Sly look might be for some, I kind of like a tiny bit of stubble up there, and I know that although I won't regrow my hair with Propecia it will save what's left (or so it says).'

My question is, I've spent hours reading online and it's always 50/50 about whether it does or does not have side effects. The worst I've read is it causes permanent impotence which scares the crap out of me!

So I come here, and ask you, what is the current conclusive evidence for taking this drug? Please post your most honest answers, whether or not you're for it or against it.

Thank you so much for your help guys!

[Lynchy]

"Sexual side effects
There are case reports of persistent diminished libido or erectile dysfunction, even after stopping the drug.[21] In December 2008, the Swedish Medical Products agency concluded a safety investigation of finasteride and advised that finasteride may cause irreversible sexual dysfunction. The Agency's updated safety information lists difficulty in obtaining an erection that persists indefinitely, even after the discontinuation of finasteride, as a possible side effect of the drug.[22] The UK's Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) cites reports of erectile dysfunction that persists once use of finasteride has stopped.[23] Similar labeling changes have been made by the Italian government. For a period of time there was a discrepancy between European and North American warning labels regarding the risks of developing persistent sexual side effects from taking Propecia but after two years in April 2011 Merck revised the United States' warning in consumer and medical leaflets to include erectile dysfunction that may persist after stopping finasteride.[24] In April 2012, the FDA chose to approve Merck's proposed labeling from 2011 only after the warning label was further strengthened to include reports of persistent libido disorders, ejaculation disorders, orgasm disorders, and decreased libido. [25][26][27]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finasteride

So .... Yeah I think so. It's pretty wild stuff, is hair really worth it?

[Bilko1]

Kenz9, ditch the drugs & let the hair go is my advice. The side-effects are not worth it, mate.
Get your head shaved smooth, buddy. Let the angst about the hairloss slide & enjoy the trip to being a handsome, bald guy.

[Tyler]

If there was a 1% chance, would you still want to risk your man jewels on it?

[buddha]

If there was a 1% chance, would you still want to risk your man jewels on it?

+1.

Makes sense to be aware of all potential side effects of any drug. Doctors won't fill you in on this info for 1 big reason. Income.

There are 3 main classes of people that doctors deal with every single day:
1) The healthy.
2) The dead or about to be so.
3) The sick.
There is no money to be made off of groups 1 or 2. Group 1 doesn't rely on doctors. Group 2 is beyond needing them. The real money is to be made from group 3. And the longer a human being can be made to stay in group 3 the more money there is to be made. So a doctor puts a patient on some kind of crap that will help them re-grow their hair. The next thing the patient knows they have nothing below the belt buckle but fond memories. Back to the doc they go and they get a script for Viagra or some other drug designed to put some lead back into the pencil but they soon find out that they have sustained a degree of hearing loss or their vision turns blue. So back to the doc.....It seems to create a cycle of dependency and that, unfortunately, is where the money is.
I guess the point is to be skeptical, particularly where your body is concerned.

[stasiu]

Welcome to SBG !  I don't know about Propecia but a friend's son started taking Rogaine when he was 20 and he finally came to his senses at age 23 and stopped and shaved his head.  He's getting married this year and is sorry he wasted so much needed cash on something lame that did not regrow hair.

[TheSlyBear]

Are you really willing to take the risk for just hair?

[Sir Harry]

No offense taken, but if you are a Norwood 4 (or higher) as you claim, the drugs may be a total waste of time and money anyway.....