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Urology (Expert Forum)
Effects of finasteride on muscle growth and long-term fertility
Answered by
Stephen Liroff, MD - Urology, Pediatric Urology, Peyronie’s disease
Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Hospital
West Bloomfield - MI
Questions in the Urology forum are answered by Dr. Stephen Liroff, affiliated with the Henry Ford Hospital. Topics covered include benign prostate disease, penis curvature, cystisis, kidney stones, pediatric urology, prostate, sexual dysfunction, urinary tract infections (UTI), and urological cancers.
Effects of finasteride on muscle growth and long-term fertility
by calidebate, Jun 03, 2009 12:47AM
I am 27 yo male and started taking 1.25mg/day of finasteride for MPB in mid-March as prescribed by a dermatologist. I have noticed a mild decrease in libido and despite an intense work-out regimen, have seem to have plateaued on my growth. My question is two parts:
(1) does finasteride inhibit normal muscle growth and if so, is there any way to counteract this?
(2) what are the potential long-term complications to my fertility from being on this medication? Will I have difficulty impregnating my wife while on the medication and if so, how long will I need to be off of it in order to have my sperm count return to normal levels?
thank you!
(1) does finasteride inhibit normal muscle growth and if so, is there any way to counteract this?
(2) what are the potential long-term complications to my fertility from being on this medication? Will I have difficulty impregnating my wife while on the medication and if so, how long will I need to be off of it in order to have my sperm count return to normal levels?
thank you!
Doctor's Answer
by Stephen Liroff, MD, Jun 09, 2009 12:00AM
, Jun 09, 2009 12:00AM
I am unaware of any effect of finasteride on muscle growth though there is a paper in the European literature that discusses muscle inflammation from this drug. I did a literature search on the relationship between fertility and finasteride and I was surprised to find that there is really not much written on this. There is one series of 79 patients that did not observe any significant difference between men taking or not taking this drug. There are several individual case reports of patients with fertility changes related to this, however. It appears that the risk to fertility is small, based on what is reported. Ways to counteract the infertility, should it occur, would be just remaining off the drug. You might obtain a semen analysis now to help you decide on your future course.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
S.A.Liroff, M.D.
