Finasteride, Rats Studies And Ed (please, People With Scientific Background, Help Me)

[Doubts]

These studies on rats suggest that DHT is necessary for the maintenance of penile ultrastructure.

Spoiler: Studies

Effects of oral finasteride on erectile function in a rat model:


Effect of androgen deprivation on penile ultrastructure:


Long-term Oral Administration of 5α-reductase Inhibitor Attenuates Erectile Function by Inhibiting Autophagy and Promoting Apoptosis of Smooth Muscle Cells in Corpus Cavernosum of Aged Rats:


Dihydrotestosterone is the active androgen in the maintenance of nitric oxide-mediated penile erection in the rat:


Effects of androgens on the expression of nitric oxide synthase mRNAs in rat corpus cavernosum:


About rats' ages and doses, the rats in these studies are adult and their doses are higher than in humans since smaller animals have higher metabolic rates.

I want to start taking finasteride but I need to be sure that humans don't suffer something similar to what happens to rats in those studies. My hair loss and this doubt are ruining my life.


I haven't found similar studies done in human population but 5α-RIs are noted for shrinking the human prostate in a similar way in which they shrink rats' prostate so it wouldn't come as a surprise they would do the same with some penile tissue.

I think that if a penis without DHT would get fibrotic, how would it be possible that there are so many people on the drug without erectile dysfunction? (most studies show way less than 10%) Maybe their damage is subclinical? Maybe the damage done to the penis ultraestructure is not enough to cause significant ED?

And if finasteride is discontinued, would the penis ultraestructure return to normal or is it impossible to cure fibrosis? What happens to the prostate?


I've also found this study that says that erectile hemodynamics in men suffering from persistent ED after finasteride use were normal but I don't know if that rules out penile tissue damage:



I need to make my mind and act now! In order to do that I need INFORMATION. I hope somebody with scientific background can help me with my doubts.

 

[Doubts]

I deleted the links to the studies since it wouldn't let me to post the thread but if you search the name of each study on google you will find it on the first page.

The hemodynamics one is called: 1153 ERECTILE HEMODYNAMICS ASSESSMENT IN MEN WITH PERSISTENT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION AFTER 5-ALPHA REDUCTASE INHIBITOR USE:

 

[countjulian]

@Georgie this was the study you and I were talking about.

 

[countjulian]

Here's the most detailed page I could find on that study: http://www.asiaandro.com/archive/1008-682X/5/33.htm

Depending on how you read it, and I'm not sure which is correct, they were either giving them 4.5 mg, or 4.5 mg per kg of body weight, which is about 15.75 mg for a 3.5 kg rat. In either case, that's a ridiculous dose for a tiny rat. Most of us take no more than 1.5 mg and we weigh between 60-110 kg. On top of that if you check on the table on hormones, their total testosterone went down, whereas we know in humans on the usual doses the opposite happens. I general I don't like that study and it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

 

[TONSofBODYHAIR]

Any hormone alterating drug will have side effects, risk whats important for you, your hair or your tool, theres a small tiny chance of ED with fina which sometimes happens anyway with age.

If hair is more important give fina a shot and see if it agrees with you, if not give up the fight, unfortunatelly its all we have right now (also minoxidil but yeah it wont help for too long)

 

[Doubts]

Here's the most detailed page I could find on that study: http://www.asiaandro.com/archive/1008-682X/5/33.htm

Depending on how you read it, and I'm not sure which is correct, they were either giving them 4.5 mg, or 4.5 mg per kg of body weight, which is about 15.75 mg for a 3.5 kg rat. In either case, that's a ridiculous dose for a tiny rat. Most of us take no more than 1.5 mg and we weigh between 60-110 kg. On top of that if you check on the table on hormones, their total testosterone went down, whereas we know in humans on the usual doses the opposite happens. I general I don't like that study and it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

As I said in my first post: "About rats' ages and doses, the rats in these studies are adult and their doses are higher than in humans since smaller animals have higher metabolic rates."

I agree about the testosterone though. But that one is not the only study. I would love to have access to that full study and to the other ones in full. Anyone has access and can make a copy for us of the more important info? It may be possible that not all rats had damage penile tissues since we only know the average numbers.

Any hormone alterating drug will have side effects, risk whats important for you, your hair or your tool, theres a small tiny chance of ED with fina which sometimes happens anyway with age.

If hair is more important give fina a shot and see if it agrees with you, if not give up the fight, unfortunatelly its all we have right now (also minoxidil but yeah it wont help for too long)

According to animal studies I find it almost impossible that finasteride doesn't damage penile tissue but I think in most cases it's a minimal damage, like aging your dick some decades, so most people won't notice. We shouldn't forget that more than 50% of men over age 75 manage to have erections, even if they are of bad quality.

I prefer a healthy and working dick than hair but if the dick can stay healthy and working and I retain my hair I won't complain.

The most important thing to have some peace of mind and pop the pill should be to know for sure if when finasteride is discontinued, would the penis ultraestructure return to normal or is it impossible to cure fibrosis? And what happens to the prostate?