21 year old

Member Stories
#1
  1. Where are you from (country)?
    New Zealand
  2. How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?)
    Google
  3. What is your current age, height, weight?
    21, 5’7", 71 kg
  4. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
    Yes, weights
  5. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
    Meat eater, semi-healthy
  6. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
    Hair loss
  7. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
    5 months
  8. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
    20 (December 2013)
  9. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
    21 (May 2014)
  10. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
    Cold turkey
  11. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
    Generic
  12. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
    1.25 mg/day (1/4 5 mg pill)
  13. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
    4 months but maybe sooner
  14. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
    Erectile dysfunction, smaller testes, soft to touch penis
    Put an X beside all that apply:

Sexual
[x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[x] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[x] Suicidal Thoughts

Physical
[x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[x] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x] Testicular Pain
[x] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[x] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[x] Other (please explain)
Penis feels softer/lighter

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug? Started creatine but was advised to stop all protein + supplements because of existing liver damage

  2. If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
    Have only been tracking liver function. There was liver improvement while on finasteride (probably because I was exercising and eating very healthy at the same time).

  3. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?

  4. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
    I was eager to start finasteride after seeing a GP specialising in hair. I have pre-existing liver conditions so he prescribed it on the condition I get regular bloodtests. I thought it was great, I had reduced hair fall (no regrowth), I was putting weight and muscle on and life was good. In april I suddenly realised I couldn’t hold erections anymore. They were hard to get up and would go down in 2 seconds. I started to freak out and made the link to finasteride so I stopped cold turkey. I was with a women a few weeks later and couldn’t get erect enough for penetration. I was soft for oral sex and even masturbation has become difficult.

It’s been more than a month since I stopped and I’m still dysfunctional. I’m trying to stay positive but the realisation that I have potentially ruined myself at the age of 21 is depressing. I’ve had suicidal thoughts. My family and doctor don’t believe I could have ongoing effects and are assuring me I will get better. I was given a sample of viagra and felt so embarassed at the doctors today when I confessed my situation.

I ticked testicular pain, which was for a week or so after I stopped but it may have been because I squashed them during working out. I have some hope because I sometimes have softish night erections and morning erections. I have noticed that if I sleep on my side, they can stay harder but if I go on back, they instantly soften away. I’ve also found that drinking lots of water keeps my penis firmer to touch. I believe I have testicular shrinkage but this could be because I have put on weight and the rest of me is a little bit bigger.

I had brain fog when I stopped and it continued for a while but I was able to get through my exams ok recently.

I just feel very depressed sometimes.

#2

what was your liver issue? and do you think Fin made liver better?

#3

Update: It’s been over 8 months since I stopped, I want to give an update.

Brain/cognition is back to normal but sex sides still remain. I’ve been trying nofap/noporn and saving ejaculation only for sex. I’ve relapsed a couple times so can’t comment on it’s success but I think noporn is a good choice regardless. I recently had bloods and hormones tested.

My liver is still inflamed. I’ve attached my liver results over the last year or so. You can see my ALT got really high (300) while I was still on Fin. But dropped off at the end of May (I stopped Fin early May). So No I don’t believe Fin helps the liver - it does the opposite. But liver enzymes, in my experience, are highly sensitive. Working out at the gym (which I do regularly) will raise them. Eating meat/protein will raise them.

Please also find some hormones results attached. Could someone please advise if my FSH is low? These were done at 9am. I have been told by a friend (who naturally bodybuilt) that ratios of hormones are more important than levels. He admitted his test is lower than mine but this guy is the epitome of testosterone if you know what I mean. Is this the trademark of PFS: normal test and low fsh?

The doc checked my breasts but doesn’t believe I have gyno. I think it’s just fat from bulking. I’m still adament my testicles are getting small. Even my girlfriend (who I see once a month or so because of distance) held them in her hands and said they feel smaller :confused:

I had sperm checked but it looks like the number is ok and mobility is on the borderline.

Kind regards