Persistent Sexual Side Effects Related to Finasteride (Popecia) Use for Male Hair Loss

Finasteride (Propecia) has been associated with reversible adverse sexual side effects in multiple trials for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (MPHL).

This study included 71 otherwise healthy men aged 21–46 years who reported new onset of sexual side effects associated with the temporal use of finasteride, and in which the symptoms persisted for 3 months despite the discontinuation of finasteride.

Patients reported the following new-onset persistent sexual dysfunction associated with the use of finasteride:

- 94% developed low libido
- 92% developed erectile dysfunction
- 92% developed decreased arousal
- 69% developed problems with orgasm

The mean duration of finasteride use was 28 months and the mean duration of persistent sexual side effects was 40 months from the time of finasteride cessation to the interview date.

Physicians treating MPHL should discuss the potential risk of persistent sexual side effects associated with finasteride


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References:

Persistent Sexual Side Effects of Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss. Michael S. Irwig MD, Swapna Kolukula. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 2011.

Sexual life expectancy is longer for men than women

A BMJ study of middle aged and older adults showed that men were more likely than women to be sexually active, report a good quality sex life, and be interested in sex.

These gender differences increased with age and were greatest among the 75 to 85 year old group: 38.9% of men compared with 16.8% of women were sexually active, 70.8% versus 50.9% of those who were sexually active had a good quality sex life, and 41.2% versus 11.4% were interested in sex.

People in very good or excellent health were 1.5 to 1.8 times more likely to report an interest in sex than those in poorer health. At age 30, sexually active life expectancy was 34.7 years for men and 30.7 years for women compared with 14.9 to 15.3 years for men and 10.6 years for women at age 55.

At age 55, men in very good or excellent health on average gained 5-7 years of sexually active life compared with their peers in poor or fair health. Women in very good or excellent health gained 3-6 years compared with women in poor or fair health.

References:

Sex, health, and years of sexually active life gained due to good health: evidence from two US population based cross sectional surveys of ageing. BMJ 2010;340:c810.

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