I have osteoprosis and hormone problems (not finasteride related).
What I can tell you is that you should have various hormone testing on the basis that finasteride is a known antiandrogen and that lowered androgen status is known to cause a reduction in bone remodelling and potential osteopenia and osteoporosis.
You should have the following tested and you should get a coppy of your results and accompanying reference ranges;
LH
FSH
Testosterone
Free Testosterone (if possible)
SHBG (very important)
estradiol
Prolactin
Dihydrotestosterone (the principle hormone lowered by finasteride)
Given the known lowered bone density you should also have the following tested
PTH (parathyroid hormone) major impact on bone remodeling
Growth hormone reserve via an Insulin Tolerance Test (ITT) GH also has a major impact on bone remodeling.
If either Testosterone, PTH or GH is low and you have lowered bone density then they require treatment.
You should get a copy of your bone density results so you know your BD score. Osteopenia is usually defined as anything between minus 1 or minus 1.5 and minus 2/2.5 and osteoporosis is anything lower than that.
You should be prescribed a calcium treatment to take daily unless you have kidney stones and your doctor should consider mild bisphosphontae medication to help prevent bone loss.
My bone density is minus 2.8 and I have been on testosterone therapy for years but my bone density has been getting worse. Recently I had the Insulin Tolerance Test which showed I am also GH deficient which explains the continued lowering of bone density…I am awainting GH treatment.
Shows the importance of getting the right tests.
