Propecia and Pregnancy, is it safe?

Article by HairlossTalk.com

Is it safe to conceive a child while taking Propecia? What about intercourse during pregnancy? Dr. Richard Lee opens up the clinical data and gives us the final word on the facts surrounding Propecia, Birth Defects, and having children... Not many things can surpass the stress caused by the possibility of causing birth
defects in your own unborn child. So, it’s quite understandable that the
mention of a possible birth defect with the use of finasteride (Propecia 1mg and
Proscar 5mg, Merck) would cause considerable anxiety and concern. The package
insert for Proscar states under the section on Contraindications: “Because
of the ability of Type II 5alpha reductase inhibitors to inhibit the conversion
of testosterone to DHT, finasteride may cause abnormalities of the external genitalia
of a male fetus of a pregnant woman who receives finasteride”. So, is the
risk real?

Theoretically, yes. Practically, no.

What Exactly Happens?

The specific birth defect they're referring to, which happens when there is no
Type II 5-alpha reductase enzyme in the male embryo, is called hypospadias. Hypospadias
is a birth defect in which the urinary tract opening is developed on the ventral
surface (under side) of the penis rather than at the tip of the penis. There have
never been congenital abnormalities observed in female fetuses at any
dosage of finasteride.

During the research and development phase of finasteride, studies were done
on experimental animals. Rats, rabbits, and rhesus monkeys were given finasteride
to determine its relationship to birth defects, i.e. hypospadias.

Dr. Richard Lee Dr. Lee obtained his degree in medicine from the University of Pittsburgh, and has founded and operated one of the few private medical practices devoted entirely to the research and treatment of hair loss.. "Regrowth" was incorporated in 1987. Dr. Lee provides consultation services to hair loss sufferers, and has a line of custom minoxidil and topical spironolactone solutions which are widely used by our members here at HairlossTalk.com. Dr. Lee is a respected member of the HairlossTalk Community, and one of the few physicians truly educated on the causes and treatments of hair loss. You can see his website and products at minoxidil.com

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- For more information on Propecia, view our Propecia Product Review
- Discuss Propecia with others: Antiandrogen Forums
- Looking to buy Propecia online? Propecia Shop

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