Question Title: Erectile Dysfunction since starting Finasteride

I am a 27 year old male who has been experiencing
a great deal of difficulty obtaining and maintaining
a full, firm erection for the last two months.
I have found that I am only getting soft, flimsy
erections, even when I wake up in the morning.
I think I can easily attribute this ED to the
hairloss drug, Propecia, that I began taking in June.
Prior to initating this drug, I never had any
problems achieving a hard erection. I was told that
a very negligible number of people on this drug
could experience erectile dysfunction/ impotence
from this prostate medication turned hairloss
pill. I was convinced that I could never undergo
this loss of sexual function so there is
no pyschological component to this.
I would appreciate any informed advice. I have been
told and read in the studies that only 2% of
users had this problem - almost as many people who
took the placebo suffered ED. Moreover, it states
that many of the people who initially had
libido loss recovered their normal erectile
functioning after staying on the drug. Does this
sound plausible ? If the ED kicked in almost immediately after starting the Propecia, is it
possible that my body will adjust to it and
my erections go back to normal if I remain on this
medication ? Or should I just quit now before any
further harm is done ?
I do not want to lose my hair( though I have
no guarantee that Propecia will even slightly
help fight hairloss in my case). However, I
do not have any interest in staying on a drug
that will never allow me to have normal erectile
functioning.
I would really appreciate any help as I am
very confused right now.
Thanks very much

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Dear Milos,
I have read the package insert on Propecia and will provide you with the numbers. These are results after the medication was taken for one year.
1)Decreased libido-1.8%
2)Erectile Dysfunction-1.3%
3)Ejaculation disorder-1.2%
4)Decreased volume of ejaculate-0.8%
A total of 3.8% of men reported one or more of the side effects listed above.
Resolution occurred in all men who discontinued therapy and in 58% of men who continued therapy.
It takes daily use of propecia for three months to see an effect and continued use is recommended to sustain benefit. Once you stop taking the medication, reversal of the effect(benefit) will occur within 12 months.
I have provided you with all the information available, now it is up to you to make your own decision.
This information is provided for general medical educational purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653-6568).

Sincerely,
HFHS M.D.-AK
*keyword:Erectile Dysfunction.

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