Androgenetic alopecia: effects of oral finasteride on hormone profile, reproduction and sexual function

Purpose Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a common non-cicatricial alopecia. AGA treatment with finasteride was reported to have sexological side effects and its induced hormonal alterations could damage spermatogenesis. Thus, in patients affected by AGA undergoing oral therapy with Finasteride 1 mg/di...

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Published inEndocrine Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 688 - 694
Main Authors Pallotti, Francesco, Senofonte, Giulia, Pelloni, Marianna, Cargnelutti, Francesco, Carlini, Tania, Radicioni, Antonio F., Rossi, Alfredo, Lenzi, Andrea, Paoli, Donatella, Lombardo, Francesco
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Springer US 01.06.2020
Springer Nature B.V
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ISSN1355-008X
1559-0100
1559-0100
DOI10.1007/s12020-020-02219-2

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Summary:Purpose Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA) is a common non-cicatricial alopecia. AGA treatment with finasteride was reported to have sexological side effects and its induced hormonal alterations could damage spermatogenesis. Thus, in patients affected by AGA undergoing oral therapy with Finasteride 1 mg/die, we aimed to evaluate the presence of modification in sperm parameters, hormone profile and sexual function. Methods We retrospectively evaluated 55 male subjects aged 18–45 years with AGA who underwent systemic therapy with Finasteride 1 mg/die. Each subject underwent semen and blood hormone analysis, IIEF15 questionnaire administration at baseline (T0) at 6 (T6) and 12 (T12) months after the beginning of therapy and 1 year after treatment discontinuation (TD). Results At T6 we detected a statistically significant worsening of total sperm number (232.4 ± 160.3 vs. 133.2 ± 82.0; p  = 0.01 vs. T0) and abnormal forms (79.8 ± 6.0 vs. 82.7 ± 5.7; p  < 0.05 vs. T0). No difference was found for all sperm parameters at T12 and T24, except for the percentage of abnormal forms (79.8 ± 6.0 vs. 82.6 ± 4.8; p  < 0.05 T24 vs. T0). Testosterone levels were increased at T0 vs. T6 (22.1 ± 7.1 vs. 28.0 ± 8.0 ng/mL; p  < 0.05). No significant differences of IIEF15 questionnaire were detected across the study. Conclusions Finasteride is associated with significant seminological and testosterone alterations, but no sexual dysfunctions were reported during treatment of these andrologically healthy subjects. Although, sperm parameters seem to return comparable to baseline after treatment discontinuation, it is advisable to perform a careful andrological evaluation before treatment.
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ISSN:1355-008X
1559-0100
1559-0100
DOI:10.1007/s12020-020-02219-2