After experiencing overall diffuse thinning and some temple thinning (minor compared to the overall diffuse thinning), I got a prescription for Finasteride 5mg which I split into fourths. Have been taking 1.25mg every day for a bit over a month now.
I got a few hormone level checked before starting (which was actually what convinced me to begin with Finasteride in the first place):
Pre-Finasteride:
DHT 1460 ng/l (Range: 250-990)
Testosterone: 637 ug/l (Range: 280-1100)
Estradiol: 24 ng/l (Range: 11-44)
4 weeks in, I got those levels checked again:
Post-Finasteride:
DHT 1670 ng/l (Range: 250-990)
Testosterone: 890 ug/l (Range: 280-1100)
Estradiol: 41 ng/l (Range: 11-44)
So, Testosterone increased, Estradiol increased (+70%!) AND DHT increased after 4 weeks of 1.25mg Finasteride. No sides, maybe libido a bit down but I attribute that to nocebo. How would that even be possible? My mind is blown. Shedding did not improve in any way. Scalp itch improved a bit though.
Thought: Do diffuse thinners have just really high DHT without any explicit sensitivity of follicles to DHT, which in turn would manifest in the male baldness pattern? Do some people have a genetic resistance to Finasteride?
I got a few hormone level checked before starting (which was actually what convinced me to begin with Finasteride in the first place):
Pre-Finasteride:
DHT 1460 ng/l (Range: 250-990)
Testosterone: 637 ug/l (Range: 280-1100)
Estradiol: 24 ng/l (Range: 11-44)
4 weeks in, I got those levels checked again:
Post-Finasteride:
DHT 1670 ng/l (Range: 250-990)
Testosterone: 890 ug/l (Range: 280-1100)
Estradiol: 41 ng/l (Range: 11-44)
So, Testosterone increased, Estradiol increased (+70%!) AND DHT increased after 4 weeks of 1.25mg Finasteride. No sides, maybe libido a bit down but I attribute that to nocebo. How would that even be possible? My mind is blown. Shedding did not improve in any way. Scalp itch improved a bit though.
Thought: Do diffuse thinners have just really high DHT without any explicit sensitivity of follicles to DHT, which in turn would manifest in the male baldness pattern? Do some people have a genetic resistance to Finasteride?