Author: Dr. William Rassman

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Does fin affect athletic performance negatively, positively, or at all?

The World Health Organization’s Adverse Drug Reaction Database contained 508 reports of serious muscle-related side effects suspected of being linked to the use of finasteride, mostly atrophy, weakness, myalgia and sudden, strong muscle tightening (spasms).

Results newly reported in JAMA show that the muscle mass of men is not affected by inhibition of 5 alpha-reductase, the enzyme that produces the androgen 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from testosterone


2021-08-04 09:17:37Does fin affect athletic performance negatively, positively, or at all?

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Does Early Norwood Class 6 Mean Class 7 is Inevitable?

Norwood 7A question about hairlines.

When i go bald is my hairline pre-determined or does it continually recede my whole life? for example I am 18 and thinning. If i am class 6 by age 25 will i stay that way the rest of my life because that is my determined hairline? or does it just keep receding my whole life until i die.

So if i’m 18 am I going to definatly be class 7? or do i stop where i’m supposed to?

In other words does having an early class 6 mean that 7 is inevitable?

Only about 7% of men develop Norwood Class 7 patterns and most of the Class 6 patterns that are developed will remain Class 6 patterns throughout life. To see all of the Norwood classes, click here.


2008-12-17 13:35:13Does Early Norwood Class 6 Mean Class 7 is Inevitable?

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Does Finasteride bring back hairline?

Finasteride, when it brings back the hairline, it is usually in a younger man (under 25) but I have seen it in a 33 year old as well. This is not common and the published literature suggests that it is rare and not to expect return of frontal hair with finasteride.


2020-07-14 06:52:01Does Finasteride bring back hairline?

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Does Finasteride Cause Hypothyroidism?

Propecia(Finasteride) cause hypothyroidism? I am on propecia for more than 2years now. My TSH is elevated in the last one year. I would like to know if Propecia has any impact on the thyroid glands. I do not have any symptoms of hypothyrodism. I am planning to go off propecia now. Appreciate your reply.

There is no connection between thyroid function and Propecia.

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Does finasteride cause breast cancer in men?

A recent study shows conclusively that there is no association between male breast cancer and those people taking finasteride (Propecia).

http://cebp.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2019/04/19/1055-9965.EPI-18-0904


2019-07-11 10:34:41Does finasteride cause breast cancer in men?

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Does finasteride lose effectiveness over time?

Some people say that finasteride looses effectiveness over time, some say 4 years while other say 10 years or even 15 years, is that the case usually ? Because I’M 24 with a NW2 and if I start finasteride now and have hair transplant and it looses its effectiveness in next 10 years when i’m 34 would that be a problem if the hair loss starts again ? and I’m aware that we have a limited donor hair

Finasteride remains effective over time. What changes is your balding pattern which progresses as you age. Without finasteride, it will progress faster.

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Does Finasteride impact a man’s semen

What has been reported to me in addition to what I read are the following impacts on men’s semen: 1- change in consistency, 2- decreased volume, and 3- reduced sperm count.

Men wishing to have a baby should check their sperm count. If they find that they have a problem impregnating their partner they may consider stopping the drug with a risk of losing the hair you gained from it. I have seen some scattered reports that some men have seen such a radical reduction in sperm count that they would be considered sterile; however, stopping the drug supposedly increases the sperm count over time.

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Does Finasteride Control Genetic Hair Loss or Not?

Dear Sir,
This is with reference to comment titled “Periodic Shedding from Finasteride?” in which you had mentioned that Finateride do NOT help to control genetic hair loss. I was impression that Finasteride helps to control the genetic hair loss by handling the DHT accumulation. If Finasteride do not help to control the genetic fall off, what exactly this drug is intended for? Request your advise to understand this better.

This is part of what I said in that post that you’re referring to:

“It is important to realize the the genetic hair loss has its own course, independent of the effects of the drug. What you think is shedding from finasteride, is probably more genetic hair loss. Hair loss goes in waves and cycles of loss (shedding) most likely due to your genetics, not the finasteride. You should discuss this with your prescribing doctor.”

To clarify, finasteride is not a magic pill that stops genetic hair loss. It decreases DHT production at the hair level to combat the DHT that facilities genetic hair loss. As a result, most men on the drug will have some hair growth or slowing of the hair loss. The main point here is that the genetic predisposition will continue and finasteride will carry you only so far.