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.

More than 50% of injuries on Fourth of July are related to fireworks

The eyes are the most frequently injured body parts, followed by the fingers and hands. Here is a video from the Cleveland Clinic with some advice how to prevent these injuries:



This video discusses ways to prevent and identify heat-related illness in senior citizens:

Oropharyngeal carcinoma increased by 22% in 6 years, related to rise in HPV

Head and neck cancer is the sixth most common cancer. Despite an overall marginal decline in the incidence of most head and neck cancers in recent years, the incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has increased greatly, especially in the developed world.

In the United States, the incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma increased by 22% between 1999 and 2006.

The increase in incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma seems to be accounted for by a rise in human papillomavirus (HPV) related oropharyngeal carcinoma.

References:

Oropharyngeal carcinoma related to human papillomavirus. BMJ 2010; 340:c1439 doi: 10.1136/bmj.c1439 (Published 25 March 2010).

Image source: HPV types and associated diseases, Wikipedia, public domain.

Twitter comments:

@travispew (Travis Pew): So get your kids the HPV shot.