LOS ANGELES - Hair-loss products that contain the drug finasteride and are sold under the brand names Propecia and Proscar are known to cause sexual side effects in some men.
But a new study suggests that the sexual dysfunction can last for several months after stopping the medications.
Researchers interviewed 71 men ages 21 to 46 who were in good health but claimed they experienced sexual side effects after beginning finasteride. The men reported various problems such as erectile dysfunction (92 percent experienced this), low sexual desire and decreased arousal. The participants reported using the medication for an average of 28 months, but the average duration of sexual side effects after stopping the drug was 40 months.
A previous study by the drug manufacturer found the number of people experiencing sexual side effects while taking finasteride was 8 percent. But men who are considering using the products, which help restore hair for people with typical male-pattern baldness, should discuss the potential risk for persistent sexual side effects with their doctors.
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The study is published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.
