Hello, I am a 29 year old male. I responded well to finasteride for 5 years (from 2013 to 2018). In 2018 due to hair greed and concern that I was slowly losing ground (in hindsight was probably overly paranoid, eughhh), and after looking at the very similar safety profiles of finasteride and dutasteride- I switched to dutasteride.
Everything was fine until about 10 months in (July 2019) when I noticed I wasn't actually craving sex anymore or feeling any real sexual attraction. This was pretty depressing. I dropped dutasteride almost immediately and have remained on finasteride since in the hope some libido would return, but about 7 months later and I still feel no actual primal urge. It's like something is altered on a neurological level. However, I do have the occasional erotic dream in which I feel genuine sexual attraction. Do you think this is a good sign that there could there be a psychosomatic element to all this? I would still maintain my libido has taken a serious hit and I never feel anything much while awake.
It's worth noting that my penis is still fully functional; sex is perfectly doable and reasonably enjoyable at times but not the same satisfying experience it once was, nor can I maybe do it as often. Orgasms still feel the same, ejaculate volume and consistency is the same. I do have though a pretty persistent mild, tingly, 'pins and needles' like feeling in my groin area.
Most of the time in the last 7 months I haven't been overly depressed or bothered about this as physically I am ok but when I actually think about it I realise it's kind of screwed up and would like to feel actual desire again. Any advice on how to maybe get something back? I realise now switching to dutasteride was a mistake but what can you do.
I have thought about weening off finasteride slowly and see if that shakes thing back into shape, with a view to get back on it again once I've wiped the slate clean. I've also ordered some tribulus as I hear that's good for libido. Anything else I can try?
Everything was fine until about 10 months in (July 2019) when I noticed I wasn't actually craving sex anymore or feeling any real sexual attraction. This was pretty depressing. I dropped dutasteride almost immediately and have remained on finasteride since in the hope some libido would return, but about 7 months later and I still feel no actual primal urge. It's like something is altered on a neurological level. However, I do have the occasional erotic dream in which I feel genuine sexual attraction. Do you think this is a good sign that there could there be a psychosomatic element to all this? I would still maintain my libido has taken a serious hit and I never feel anything much while awake.
It's worth noting that my penis is still fully functional; sex is perfectly doable and reasonably enjoyable at times but not the same satisfying experience it once was, nor can I maybe do it as often. Orgasms still feel the same, ejaculate volume and consistency is the same. I do have though a pretty persistent mild, tingly, 'pins and needles' like feeling in my groin area.
Most of the time in the last 7 months I haven't been overly depressed or bothered about this as physically I am ok but when I actually think about it I realise it's kind of screwed up and would like to feel actual desire again. Any advice on how to maybe get something back? I realise now switching to dutasteride was a mistake but what can you do.
I have thought about weening off finasteride slowly and see if that shakes thing back into shape, with a view to get back on it again once I've wiped the slate clean. I've also ordered some tribulus as I hear that's good for libido. Anything else I can try?
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