Doc, I was tested and had low igf-1 levels (45 yo male). My doctor is now prescribing a combination of sermorelin and a low dose T-cream. It has been 5 months now and to date I have had no hair loss. In terms of energy level, recovery from hard bouts of exercise (i am triathlete) and and my igf-1, hgh and t- levels…fantastic. I feel incredible. Should I be worried about hair loss? Does it occur with everyone?

I think you are getting way ahead of yourself — you don’t even have hair loss. I really cannot say how these medications will affect your hair since I am not familiar with them. The important thing is to get your health back and follow your doctor’s advice. If you have concerns about your prescribed medication, it is best to speak with your prescribing doctor.

I tried Propecia for two years.
This medication just stopped my lossing hair, but never regrow nothing exept a visual under a microscope. This medication was found by accident,who pretend they spend money with their own research budget it’s a nonsence and you knew that! This medication was found with the US,European Budget for a medication for the high blood presure! call finasteride generic name or proscar on commercial! Merck frost spend 0 dollars for those research! It’s like the research for aids! all world government gave money for those research! The only money they spend was for the guinea pig they use for test the good & bad effect on human body! Phase I,II,IIV,IV

Propecia or (finasteride generic name) gave a bad effect on the libido (sexuality)! don’t try it or you’ll regret until you stop for 14 month and your libido will back again, right after this long period only. even though they claim it’s happen on a small % of peoples don’t trust them.

Trust me!

Somebody sure seems very angry!

Despite the erroneous nature of the facts you present, the confusing thing about your post is that you said it worked for you! It stopped your hair loss! That is the most common effect of the medication. There is no magic drug to bring back all your hair and Propecia works better in some men (and sometimes grow new hair) than it does in others. At the very least your hair loss stopped.

Just to be clear for the readers out there that aren’t aware — Propecia is a brand name for a generic drug named finasteride in 1mg strength. Proscar is a brand name for a generic drug named finasteride in 5mg strength.

When taken at the 5mg strength level, finasteride reduces prostate size, treats certain prostate conditions, and has even been found to decrease the risk of prostate cancer by up to 25%. It is not a high blood pressure medication. Some of the studies done on Propecia are taken from Proscar studies (higher dose) and the negative sexual side effects occur in 1 to 2% of men and is reversible upon discontinuation of the medication. And while not a published side effect, Propecia can also increase one’s sex drive (occurs in about 10% of men in our experience).

I’m 23 and recently started noticing baldness symptoms. I’m a huge hypochondriac however and my friends tell me I’m just paranoid. I think my temples recede a bit further back than normal and my hair feels thinner in the back but that could just be my imagination. I first had concerns when I noticed large amounts of hair falling out. I have very long hair, about 11 inches, which is new for me, and I know many men think they are balding when they grow their hair out and are simply not used to finding so much large visable hair everywhere. My female friend told me that I had too many split ends and that was causing more hair to come out on the comb. I trimmed it and have noticed less hair falling out. I also have a cow lick in the back od my head that cause a bit of an odd part that shows my scalp a bit. I know many men also mistake this kind of thing for baldness. Maybe there are multiple factors at work. What is NOT my imagination is that much of my hair that falls out is much thinner in diameter at the follical. It usually starts to decrease in thickness within the last 4 inches towards the follical. I have been under more than usual stress, could that contribute to this?

Also, I tried Propecia for one month but stopped when I read many many testimonials online for several people who claim it damaged their sexual functionality, in some cases permenently even after they stopped using it. It seems like it must affect more than the claimed rare 2% since so many people seem to speak out against it. If it did start to affect me I wouldn’t be able to tell since I’m so paranoid about these kind of things.

I have noticed that my sexual functionality is okay, but not what it was when I was 18. I noticed this before going on Propecia. Since I may already have problems in that area I didn’t want to risk causing any more damage.

So the questions

Do I have good reason to fear propecia?

I seem to have less hair falling out than I did a month ago. Could this be a result of fewer split ends? Or could that one month on Propecia have made any difference? Does baldness occur is shifts or phases or is it a constant steady decrease until it’s all gone?

I know that was kind of a tome but thank you.

Yes, you certainly sound like a hypochondriac — every doctor’s nightmare!

Keep in mind that those without sexual side effects don’t generally go posting all over the Internet to tell everyone. The posts you read are from those with complaints (legitimate or not) and as such, the numbers and the degree of alarm are skewed. Furthermore, many men not taking Propecia also have inherent sexual problems that go undiagnosed. Just look at the popularity of Viagra. You would think that everybody was impotent!

If you are concerned about hair loss, go see a doctor (just not me — I’m kidding!). Don’t play guessing games.