ArticleThe Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism2016
Characteristics of Men Who Report Persistent Sexual Symptoms After Finasteride Use for Hair Loss.
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Article in The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 27 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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27citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
7.7field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
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Who cites it
27 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 65 citations in OpenAlex.
- Sexual dysfunction associated with 5α-reductase inhibitors in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- Steroid 5α-reductases in the brain: From neurosteroidogenesis to therapeutic implications.Frontiers in neuroendocrinology · 2026Review
- Finasteride withdrawal induces anxiety-like behavior and novelty avoidance in adult male rats.Journal of neuroendocrinology · 2026Article
- Finasteride Use Does Not Lead to Depression or Suicide: Insights From a Large-Scale Cohort Study and Mendelian Randomization Analysis.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2025Article
- Exploration of the Possible Relationships Between Gut and Hypothalamic Inflammation and Allopregnanolone: Preclinical Findings in a Post-Finasteride Rat Model.Biomolecules · 2025Article
- Suicidality Risks Associated with Finasteride, a 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor: An Evaluation of Real-World Data from the FDA Adverse Event Reports.Pharmaceuticals (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Analysis of the finasteride treatment and its withdrawal in the rat hypothalamus and hippocampus at whole-transcriptome level.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2024Article
- How to Deal with the Issues of Fertility, Malignancies, and the Postfinasteride Syndrome while Prescribing Finasteride for Male Pattern Hair Loss.Skin appendage disorders · 2022Article
- Gut feelings: the microbiota-gut-brain axis on steroids.American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology · 2022Review
- The effects of centipedegrass extract on hair growth via promotion of anagen inductive activity.PloS one · 2022Article
- Serum concentrations of dihydrotestosterone are associated with symptoms of hypogonadism in biochemically eugonadal men.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2021Article
- Alterations of gut microbiota composition in post-finasteride patients: a pilot study.Journal of endocrinological investigation · 2021Article
- The hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-minoxidil inclusion complex improves the cardiovascular and proliferative adverse effects of minoxidil in male rats: Implications in the treatment of alopecia.Pharmacology research & perspectives · 2020Article
- Penile vascular abnormalities in young men with persistent side effects after finasteride use for the treatment of androgenic alopecia.Translational andrology and urology · 2020Article
- Hormonal Treatment Strategies Tailored to Non-Binary Transgender Individuals.Journal of clinical medicine · 2020Review
- Post-finasteride syndrome: An emerging clinical problem.Neurobiology of stress · 2020Article
- Post-Finasteride Syndrome: An Induced Delusional Disorder with the Potential of a Mass Psychogenic Illness?Skin appendage disorders · 2019Article
- Altered methylation pattern of the SRD5A2 gene in the cerebrospinal fluid of post-finasteride patients: a pilot study.Endocrine connections · 2019Article
- Repurposing steroidogenesis inhibitors for the therapy of neuropsychiatric disorders: Promises and caveats.Neuropharmacology · 2019Review
- Post-finasteride syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction: two sides of the same coin?Endocrine · 2018Review
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Authors and funding
19 authors at 6 institutions in 2 countries.
Shehzad BasariaResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Ravi JasujaResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Grace HuangResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Whitney WhartonResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Hong PanResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Karol PencinaResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Zhuoying LiResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Thomas G TravisonResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Jag BhawanResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Renaud GonthierResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Fernand LabrieResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Alain Y DuryResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Carlo SerraResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Allen PapazianResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Michael O'LearyResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Sami AmrResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Thomas W StorerResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Emily SternResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Shalender BhasinResearch Program in Men's Health: Aging and Metabolism (S.Ba., R.K., G.H., K.P., Z.L., C.S., A.P., T.W.S., S.Bh.), Harvard Medical School, Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory (H.P., E.S.), Department of Radiology, and Section of Urology (M.O.), Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; Department of Neurology (W.W.), Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322; Program on Aging (T.G.T.), Hebrew Senior Life, Roslindale, Massachusetts 02131; Department of Dermatology (J.B.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118; Endoceutics (R.G., F.L., A.Y.D.), Quebec City, Canada G1V 4M7; and Department of Pathology (S.A.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Brigham and Women's Hospital · USHarvard University · USTheratechnologies (Canada) · CABoston University · USEmory University · USHebrew SeniorLife · US
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
contextSome men who use finasteride for hair loss report persistent sexual and other symptoms after discontinuing finasteride therapy.
objectiveTo determine whether these persistent symptoms after discontinuation of finasteride use are due to androgen deficiency, decreased peripheral androgen action, or persistent inhibition of steroid 5α-reductase (SRD5A) enzymes.
participantsFinasteride users, who reported persistent sexual symptoms after discontinuing finasteride (group 1); age-matched finasteride users who did not report sexual symptoms (group 2); and healthy men who had never used finasteride (group 3). OUTCOMES: Sexual function, mood, affect, cognition, hormone levels, body composition, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) response to sexually and affectively valenced stimuli, nucleotide sequences of androgen receptor (AR), SRD5A1, and SRD5A2; expression levels of androgen-dependent genes in skin.
settingAcademic medical center.
resultsSymptomatic finasteride users were similar in body composition, strength, and nucleotide sequences of AR, SRD5A1, and SRD5A2 genes to asymptomatic finasteride users and nonusers. Symptomatic finasteride users had impaired sexual function, higher depression scores, a more negative affectivity balance, and more cognitive complaints than men in groups 2 and 3 but had normal objectively assessed cognitive function. Testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, 5α-androstane-3α,17β-diol-glucuronide, testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and androsterone glucuronide to etiocholanolone glucuronide ratios, and markers of peripheral androgen action and expression levels of AR-dependent genes in skin did not differ among groups. fMRI blood oxygen level-dependent responses to erotic and nonerotic stimuli revealed abnormal function in brain circuitry linked to sexual arousal and major depression.
conclusionsWe found no evidence of androgen deficiency, decreased peripheral androgen action, or persistent peripheral inhibition of SRD5A in men with persistent sexual symptoms after finasteride use. Symptomatic finasteride users revealed depressed mood and fMRI findings consistent with those observed in depression.
Indexed as
Major Depressive DisorderSexual Dysfunctions, Psychological5-alpha Reductase InhibitorsAdultAlopeciaAndrogensFinasterideGene ExpressionHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedReceptors, AndrogenSexual Dysfunction, PhysiologicalYoung Adult5-alpha Reductase InhibitorsAndrogensFinasterideReceptors, Androgen
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