Article for causes hair loss

The drug propecia is a prescription hair loss medication designed mainly for men with mild to moderate hair loss. The effects of hair loss and propecia were studied in several clinical trials
and propecia was found to be better than a placebo.

The men in the studies
aged between 18 and 41
took propecia daily for a year. Some men took a placebo. Of the men who took the propecia
86
either did not suffer further hair loss
or actually increased the amount of hair in the affected areas. Only 14% of men had continued hair loss.

The drug propecia has been found to be ineffective for women. This
combined with the potential danger of abnormalities to a male fetus
means that propecia is not prescribed for female pattern hair loss. Propecia has not been studied in older men
or men with complete baldness
and it has not been proved to work with a receding hairline. Propecia is not suitable for children
no doubt due to its negative effect on developing male genitals.

Generally
propecia is a very safe drug for hair loss. Most men taking it did not have any side effects
though some reported:

* erection difficulties
* reduced amount of semen
* less sexual desire

These were not permanent changes
and when those affected stopped taking propecia
their symptoms disappeared. Some men who reported these side effects were also able to continue taking propecia without the side effects continuing. The report I saw did not say whether the side effects just stopped
or if other treatment was undertaken to counteract them.

The drug propecia has only been studied on men for up to two years
and these men had no problems taking it for this period. However
based on research over a period of 32 years on men who are deficient on the enzyme that propecia suppresses
5
reductase
the mechanism by which propecia works seems to be quite safe for long term use.

Disadvantages of Taking Propecia

Propecia is not a cure for hair loss. Propecia works by interrupting the conversion process of testosterone to its metabolite
dihydrotestosterone (DHT for short). It does this by effecting the enzyme catalyst
5
reductase
that is involved in the conversion process. In male pattern hair loss
there is an excess of DHT in the part of the scalp where hair loss occurs. So
by reducing the amounts of DHT in the scalp
propecia effectively works to prevent new hair loss
and allows hair to regrow. However
to continue the benefits of propecia
you'll need to take it for the rest of your life. Once you stop taking propecia
the DHT levels will rise again in the scalp
and hair loss will return to pre-propecia levels.

The Drug Propecia and Pregnancy

Women should be very careful not to handle propecia if they are pregnant
as it can affect the development of the sex organs in a male fetus. So
it would be wise not to touch any open packets
or broken tablets. If you must
use a glove. Unbroken tablets are safety coated
so the active ingredient of propecia
which is the potential problem
is not present on the outside of the tablet.

For men taking propecia
if your wife is pregnant
there is no risk to her unless she is exposed to the active ingredient from a broken tablet. She
or the baby
won't be harmed when her partner is taking it.

However
given that in some men propecia affects the amount of semen produced
if you are trying to conceive this may pose a problem. This side effect does not affect all
or most
men. But check with your doctor if you think this may be a concern.