Taking Dutasteride While Starting a Family

Hi Doctor,

I have been taking Dutasteride to reduce hair loss in the past 3 years. I just got married recently and planning to have children. Could you please tell me will I have problems with having children or my baby may become defect because of my sperm containing dutasteride. Should I stop taking dutasteride for a period of time before starting to have children?

Thanks

Dutasteride (Avodart), as mentioned on this site many times before, is not FDA approved for treating male pattern baldness. However, if you are on dutasteride for any other reason and are planning to have children, you can do so by discontinuing the medication for at least 6 weeks before that. I say 6 weeks, but Dutasteride has been reported to have a long half life (5-6 weeks) which might mean that the drug is in your system far longer than the 6 weeks estimate I just gave you. We really do not know the answer.

Although not studied on humans, animal studies show reduction in both ejaculate volume and sperm count using high doses of dutasteride. After stopping this medication on rats, its fertility effect is reversed in all animals, while sperm count needed 14 weeks for full recovery.

Just be aware that pregnant women should not handle the medication. It can be absorbed through skin and may affect the baby. If the drug stays in the sperm, in theory, it could impact sexual development of the baby.