Anti-baldness drug may cause impotence

Prevent baldness and you may lose your virility

Men could be risking their sexual health by taking the common anti-baldness drug Propecia (finasteride). Experts say the drug can cause serious side effects and isn't adequately labeled.

Merck, the manufacturer of the drug, mentions problems on its Web site such as difficulty achieving an erection, but also says the problems will go away for men who stop taking the drug. However, many doctors say that complete impotence is not unusual even among men who have stopped taking the drug.

Propecia (finasteride) has been heavily promoted directly to American men in TV commercials and male-oriented magazines. Its promise is an alluring one: "Helping make hair loss history."

Propecia claims that nine out of 10 men with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss on the top or middle front of their head will experience visible results. The drug works by reducing DHT, the most potent male hormone that is linked to shrinking hair, by blocking the enzyme 5 alpha reductase.

But behind the images of impressive results showing men's baldness practically disappearing is a disturbing side effect that is barely talked about despite the drug's popularity: impotence.

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Can excessive ejaculation cause hair loss?

A significant portion of adult males in Japan express concern over hair loss

"For a long time men have been advised to take a diet of meats, eggs and other foods high in proteins," he remarks. "Hair is also created from protein intake."

Ergo, a new theory holds that excessive ejaculation of seminal fluid may deplete proteins and would impede hair growth.

"Viewed objectively, it (i.e., excessive ejaculation) can result in premature aging, reduced metabolism and thinning hair in males from middle age and beyond," says Add Hair's Yoshida. "We've found that compared with the older generation, today's younger men tend to be more sexually active. Even though they boast a robust metabolism, they're burning up too many proteins. As lifestyles change, so do sexual lifestyles, and that's why you see more young guys showing signs of premature baldness."

An unnamed source in the hair restoration business tells Asahi Geino a guideline has actually been developed to discourage overactive libidos from ravaging one's hairline.

"Using this formula, the ideal frequency (of emissions) can be calculated by taking the person's age in years, dividing the number by 10, and squaring the result. Thus for a man age 30, the ideal frequency is once each 9 days, and for age 45, once every 20 days," he explains.

In other words, to assure a shaggier pate, men should bite the bullet, take cold showers and engage in restraint in all things carnal.

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