Hello Dr. Rassman,
I am replying to the Aug 25 post about Propecia. If data suggests that after 5 years of usage, that patients return to where they were when the drug was started, am I wasting my $50+ a month on Propecia? I have been taking it since Spring 1998. I had 2000 grafts at NHI in Feb. 2004, but have been continuing Propecia to help keep what’s left on the top of my head. If Propecia stops working after 5 years, should I stop taking it? Thanks a lot! Love your Blog!!
No, no, no. Propecia (finasteride) does not just stop working after 5 years. Somehow I am not getting that message over to my readers. If you see no benefit from it and you stop it and lose your hair, then you will know that it was working. Unfortunately, Propecia is a drug that you must believe is working for you, if you use it. I believe that it always works on men, if not in retaining hair, at least in slowing the loss down. Stopping it brings you back to where you would have been had you never taken it. There is no guarantee that it will keep being as effective as it was the day you started it but some hair is better than no hair.
Paid advertisements (not an endorsement):
I had a hair transplant 1 year ago. 3,075. class 4a. I used propecia for 11 months and I stopped because of lack of libido and my penis seemed to be shrinking in size. I had depression and was very sensative. I stopped 1 1/2 months ago and I feel better mentally and my penis feel like it has blood flowing back into it. In its limp stage it is bigger. I have noticed the fullness of my hair seems to be thinning abit. I do not want to continue on propecia. Should I get a second transplant to fill in and what are my options without propecia?
I dont think propecia will “shrink” your penis!
Must have been tough to see it “shrink” from 4 to 3 1/2!! What a load of rubbish.
Well, Bill and ‘Concerned; I beg to differ.I came across this blog by googling ‘Does propecia shrink the penis’ ….You see, I started taking Propecia barely 5 weeks ago (I’m 36) and already started seeing an improvement in the thickness of my hair.
About 2 weeks ago, my libido seemed to disappear completely -as though my penis and brain were disconnected – no more morning erections. then 4 days ago, I was completely shocked to find my penis appeared to be shrinkin and it seems to be getting worse. The erect state seems probably 10% smaller but it is the placid state is most worrying – at least 30% smaller. I am looking for similar experiences and the links I have seen so far are disturbing…
You guys can joke all you want…but Mike 565 is not the only one to experience this. I have seen others post this reaction to propecia on various sites. I have been on propecia for 3 years. I have noticed in the last year my penis has shrank in size (when flacid). I thought I was possibly imagining it…but my girl-friend clearly noticed it as well. I have been dating her for 5 years (long before going on propecia). It does seem closely to the same size when erect. Someone in an original posting asked if the person experience this effect had any recent weight gain which may contribute to a smaller penis size. I am in shape and have not had any weight gain in the last 5 years. Its kind of a funny dilema when you think about it. Being given the choice between a head of hair or a small penis. All kidding a side…it clearly is a side effect to some people on propecia.