Does Finasteride Cause Breast Enlargement
Gynecomastia is a common side effect of finasteride, but it typically goes away after you stop taking the drug.
Finasteride is a medication used to treat male pattern baldness and enlarged prostate. It’s also sometimes prescribed as a treatment for enlarged breasts (gynecomastia). While gynecomastia can be caused by cancer or other serious conditions, it’s usually caused by taking finasteride.
Finasteride works by blocking the production of testosterone in your body, which causes breast tissue growth and makes it more difficult for hair follicles to grow in certain places on your body.
how common is gyno from finasteride
There is more than one reason why males have gynecomastia, or the development of breast tissue. Hormonal difficulties (such as Klinefelter’s syndrome or a pituitary problem) can interfere with the body’s ability to produce testosterone, as can advancing age, adrenal, testicular, or pituitary tumors, thyroid disorders, and diseases of the liver and kidneys. Gynecomastia can be brought on by taking any one of a number of drugs. From 10–25% of all gynecomastia instances are brought on by medication usage. Spironolactone, various anti-androgens, cimetidine, ketoconazole, estrogens, and male hormones are all medicines that have been linked to gynecomastia. Please visit this link for a comprehensive list of the medications under suspicion. There is an underlying hormonal imbalance, usually an increase in the estradiol/testosterone ratio, that contributes to all of these distinct reasons.
Induced gynecomastia by finasteride: misconceptions
Finasteride, when used to treat male pattern baldness, has been found to sometimes produce gynecomastia, even when used at the 1 mg daily level allowed by the Food and Drug Administration. Only roughly 4-10 people out of every 1,000 users will be at danger. Finasteride-caused gynecomastia has been the subject of several myths and misunderstandings. Some of these are clarified below.
1.Gynecomastia can affect one or both sides of the chest. One-sidedness is a prevalent characteristic.
Finasteride can cause either a left or right gynecomastia. The difference between 1 mg and 5 mg is more noticeable at lower dosages.
Two to four months is the average onset of gynecomastia.
Finasteride-induced gynecomastia can appear as soon as a few weeks after starting the medication but more commonly appears a few months later (if it is going to occur). It may take another year or two for the phenomena to be recognized.
Breast soreness or discomfort may be the first symptom of finasteride-induced gynecomastia.
Feelings of pain or tenderness are a red flag you should not ignore. This may happen before the real growth takes place.
Finasteride-induced gynecomastia can occur at any dose, albeit it is more common at larger levels.
There is less of a chance of breast augmentation in males using the 1 mg dosage compared to the 5 mg dose. Dose response is significant because it suggests that 0.5 mg once daily (or once every other day) may be associated with a reduced risk of gynecomastia for some males (while still potentially benefitting their hair).
- Many cases of finasteride-induced gynecomastia are reversible upon abruptly discontinuing treatment, however this is not the case for everyone.
To correct finasteride-induced gynecomastia, many patients just need to quit taking the medication as soon as the condition is recognized. The drug use may progress to an irreversible level if therapy is not interrupted (where only surgery will provide treatment).
Age and obesity contribute to more severe gynecomastia caused by finasteride.
Finasteride can cause gynecomastia, although it’s more common in older, heavier men.
- The majority of men whose gynecomastia was brought on by Finasteride had normal blood work.
Depending on the man’s personal history, blood testing might be necessary. In most cases, however, blood work and other hormone testing come back normal. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSVRC9HyCK0
how does finasteride cause gynecomastia
The hair loss associated with male pattern baldness is frequently remedied with finasteride. Studies suggest it can reverse hair loss in as many as 90% of men [1], so it’s clearly effective. Whether used alone or in conjunction with a hair transplant, finasteride has a high safety profile. However, there are a number of risks associated with taking Finasteride, one of which is gynecomastia.
Finasteride seldom causes the rare but serious side effect known as gynecomastia, or male breast enlargement. While just a minority of men are at danger, it’s still essential to be knowledgeable about the condition. What you’ll pick up from this article is:
why taking Finasteride can cause gynecomastia, what gynecomastia is, and how it occurs
the best way to deal with or prevent gynecomastia brought on by Finasteride.
Explain gynecomastia to me.
Gynecomastia is the abnormal growth of breast tissue in males and young men. This syndrome disproportionately affects males of advanced age, but can also manifest in infants and teens [2].
When hormones are out of whack, gynecomastia can occur. That’s why it’s more common in kids (because mom’s higher female hormone levels are passed on to ’em during pregnancy), teens (because hormone levels vary during puberty), and elderly men (because testosterone levels diminish with age) [2-3].
However, some younger and middle-aged men might develop gynecomastia after using Finasteride for hair loss or benign prostatic enlargement.
Exactly why does taking Finasteride lead to the development of male breast tissue?
Hormone levels can be altered by using finasteride. Up to 80% less dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is produced as a result [4]. If DHT is the hormone responsible for hair loss, then decreasing DHT levels can slow hair loss, but it will also throw off your body’s delicate hormonal balance.
Oestrogen levels can rise as a result of DHT suppression [5]. Growth of female sexual features, such as breasts, is stimulated by oestrogen. Finasteride’s effect of lowering DHT levels while increasing oestrogen might cause gynecomastia.