Propecia is Giving Me Blue Balls!

Dr.Rassman,

I am a 24 year old male and have been taking .20 of propecia for almost 30 days now.

Three nights ago before falling asleep I felt some testicular pain that I felt prior to falling asleep. I’ve heard of people having pain in one testicle but not both so I figured my body was just adjusting to the drug or something. Well, the pain felt better if I laid down flat or put my legs up. I noticed that when I ejaculated the next AM the pain had subsided greatly.

Two days after that episode the feeling returned. Sure enough when I ejaculated it felt better. The ejaculation feeling was not one of pleasure rather one that felt like a release not necessarily a good release just a necessary one. The pain is best described as “blue balls” as I’ve had that a few times as well unfortunately. It feels very similar to that with some stomach pain as well. I’ve noticed the consistency of my semen is that of water these past few days as well. I’m not exagerrating-water.

I don’t have health insurance and am a a full time student. I’d like to save my hair if possible as it’s already a nw3V pattern. Is this typical? Have you had patients who’ve had this and it’s subsided over time? Am I a bad responder? Please please please help

The change in semen quality is characteristic of Propecia in 5% of men. Pain in the testicles has also been reported, but maybe you have a spermatocele and should be checked out by a good doctor. There are other conditions that can cause testicular pain that comes and goes, including torsion of a testicle (dangerous twisting of the testiclular blood supply), so there is really no substitute for a doctor’s examination.