title: Evaluation of sexual function with an international index of erectile function in subjects taking finasteride for androgenetic alopecia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate variations in sexual and erectile function in subjects taking 1 mg of finasteride for androgenetic alopecia by administering the abridged 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire before and during treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a multicenter study, 186 patients with androgenetic alopecia were asked to complete the IIEF-5 regarding the domain of erectile function before (at baseline) and 4 to 6 months after beginning finasteride treatment. The test was self-administered.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 7 institutional dermatology departments in Italy (Bologna, Rome, Genoa, Cagliari, Milan, Florence, and Bari).
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 186 patients with androgenetic alopecia were evaluated before and 4 to 6 months after the initiation of finasteride therapy (1 mg). All patients (age range, 19-43 years; mean age, 28.3 years) were followed up as outpatients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The score on each of the 5 domains of the IIEF-5 did not show any significant change after 4 to 6 months of treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results support the clinical impression that sexual side effects are actually much less common than reported in clinical trials. The sexual function of all patients remained stable during treatment with 1 mg of finasteride.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 1, 40138 Bologna, Italy. tosti@med.unibo.it
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tosti
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pazzaglia
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soli
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rebora
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Atzori
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbareschi
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benci
authors.forename: Stylianos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Voudouris
authors.forename: Gino Antonio
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vena
mesh_terms: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced*; D018120:Finasteride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride