Finasteride inhibits DHT, the most potent androgen. Testosterone levels are preserved or sometimes slightly increased while on the drug. Regardless, loss of DHT is a form of androgen deprivation. The below paper outlines what can happen to men’s penile size after undergoing longterm androgen deprivation therapy (loss of T/DHT) using LHRH agonists for prostate cancer.
The Effects of Long-Term Androgen Deprivation Therapy on Penile Length in Patients with Prostate Cancer: A Single-Center, Prospective, Open-Label, Observational Study
So shrinkage in this study was not found to significantly tie to fertility, however there’s a better chance that fertility retained will coincide with an absence of penile shortening?
This seems to indicate that one can still be fertile but have significant penile shortening/shrinkage due to finasteride treatment.
“Potency” in this case is referring to erectile function. In short, guys who were able to maintain some form of erectile function after androgen deprivation therapy (ie, likely via nightly PDE5 inhibitor treatment (viagra) or vacuum pumps) had less penile shortening than those men who remained flaccid/did not obtain erections.
Since erections bring in fresh oxygenated blood to the tissues which helps maintain healthy tissue, it makes sense. In other words, use it or lose it.
Great, I took fin for almost exactly 15 months and I have severe shortening. Just long enough to do the most damage. I’m having a panic attack just reading and having to be 50% of myself for the rest of my life.
Any scientific basis out there at all to suggest this could ever be reversed?
There are other papers linking restoration of androgen levels to reduced fibrosis and improved tissue oxygenation, increased NOS activity & erectile function. It probably takes time to reverse (if possible), but could be accelerated via PDE5 therapy, vacuum pumps etc.
I think if scientists can figure out how to get our bodies responding to androgens again, the erectile form and function as well as proper libido should return. Easier said than done obviously. The brief recoveries men here have had from antibiotics prove it can be reversible to a degree.
I posted a study elsewhere about how using pumps can halt and even reverse fibrosis, as well as regaining length. I think some of us have so many health problems from pfs we forget to try and handle the basic sexual sides. I might step this up to incorporate regular cycled use of pde5s and even the pump (dignity left the building a long time ago).
If you remember where you post it i would be interested in reading it. Thanks. I’ve had a doppler which showed fibrosis (something that was no mystery to me given the texture changes), and i should take cialis or levitra every night, but both give me vision problems.
