Evaluation of sexual function with an international index of erectile function in subjects taking finasteride for androgenetic alopecia.
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.
Tosti
Antonella
A
Department of Dermatology, University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 1, 40138 Bologna, Italy. tosti@med.unibo.it
Pazzaglia
Massimiliano
M
Soli
Marcello
M
Rossi
Alfredo
A
Rebora
Alfredo
A
Atzori
Laura
L
Barbareschi
Mauro
M
Benci
Maurizio
M
Voudouris
Stylianos
S
Vena
Gino Antonio
GA
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
D058891:5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018120:Finasteride