Finasteride is a medical substance used mainly to treat prostate enlargement and male pattern baldness among affected men. It is the generic names for popular brands names such as Proscar and Propecia. It is an enzyme that alters the molecular structure of testosterone such that it regulates the formation of dihydrotestosterone.
Dihydrotestosterone is an androgenic hormone that increases masculine characteristics among men, including sexual behavior and hereditary hair loss. It is also reportedly used during transsexual change (male to female) in order to decrease androgenic hormones in the body, albeit the scarcity of medical literature validating its effect on sexual replacement operations.
Scientific evidences show the significant improvement in countering the symptoms of prostate enlargement through finasteride. These include urination-related improvements during the course of intake. On the other hand, up to 30 percent of male pattern hair loss cases are treated by this drug.
Women are prohibited from finasteride exposure. Not only is it detrimental upon ingestion, it is also known to exhibit adverse effects upon skin contact. Clinical research provides evidence of high correlation between finasteride exposure and childbirth defects. Both pregnant and potentially pregnant women are at risk of negative childbirth effects. In addition, children are equally at risk of adverse growth development when exposed to the drug.
Short term effects among men who are on finasteride medication includes, but is not limited to, epidermal rashes, colds, nausea, swollen hands, feet, and chest area, as well as decrease in libido.
There is also an increased chance of acquiring gynecomastia, a condition wherein males develop breast enlargement due to an imbalanced hormonal ratio inside the body. When higher levels of estrogenic hormones increase, the breast tissue tends to swell, resulting in the feminization of the male body, particularly and more visibly in the chest area.
The size of the breast increases, the breast volume expands, and the nipple becomes dislocated upon the onset of gynecomastia. This phenomenon in itself is not detrimental to the overall health of males. But it affects their psychological health, particularly their self-esteem and masculine identity due to this feminine-like characteristic.
However, males who are diagnosed with true gynecomastia during and after finasteride-related ingestion maybe potential candidates for breast cancer when symptoms such as chest pain, nipple discharges, and breast lumps are experienced. Although there is no clear correlation between finasteride ingestion and breast cancer, there is a heightened association with prostate and breast cancer after administering finasteride to users.
At this point, it is highly recommended for the drug users to consult an endocrinologist, especially when cancer-related symptoms occur during medication. Endocrinology is a sub-field in the practice of internal medicine dealing with the hormones secreted by the human body.
The doctors specializing in this area, known as endocrinologists, deal with the evaluation and treatment of body parts and functions concerning the production or involvement of hormones produced by the endocrine system. This sub-field often addresses major systems of the body that is affected by the secretion of hormones, including the digestive, respiratory, muscular, skeletal, and reproductive system. It is important for males who experience adverse side effects during and after finasteride medication to undergo endocrinological tests to monitor the affects of hormonal changes in their bodies.
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