Bloods before finasteride

Nex · Mar 18, 2011

Before I took finasteride, my doctor made me get a blood test so he knew it there were not any other issues that were the cause of my hairloss. As far as I know the only hormone recorded was my testosterone level. I started finasteride yesterday, and have been reading that many people test many different hormone values before they begin. Would the most important hormone value to be tested be testosterone? Should I stop finasteride for a week (so it gets out of my system) and test for a variety of other hormones like estrogen etc etc? My feeling is that if I do have side effects, and I get my bloods tested again, even if I do not have any other values we can compare it with my previous test and see the change in my testosterone, thanks for the input guys

Ende · Mar 19, 2011

LH, FSH, testosterone, estrogen, prolactin and SHBG should be mapped. In addition, I've seen changes to androstenedione and thyroid hormones; TSH and FT4.

Stay on finasteride when you have begun treatment, but I recommend an additional blood test. Testosterone is the most important hormone level, because if the estrogen level gives you trouble, the testosterone level will decrease, and if you develop secondary hypogonadism, you'll have proof.