Loss of sexuality

Symptoms Sexual
#1

I recently watched a video giving an overview of PFS (I think it was posted on propeciahelp)that included an interview with a doctor describing “loss of libido” in PFS patients that I thought was interesting. I’ve noticed that most people here describe losing their libido as a loss of sex drive. This, coupled with the physical changes, has made sexual pleasure pretty much nonexistent for many. While, I have noticed a decrease is my sex drive since crashing, I do seem to still have the urge to masturbate several times a week. As well, I don’t have any of the shrinkage or sensitivity issues many people on here indicate experiencing. When I’m in a sexual situation, I still respond physically and at least somewhat mentally (it seems a little hard to divest the two when discussing sexuality).

In my case, the “loss of libido” seems more centered around what the doctor in the video indicated - that is, a loss of sexual attraction to other people normally found attractive. I think he puts it like looking at a tree or rock instead of an attractive person. While my libido does seem to still be present, the visceral response to visual stimulation is gone. Obviously, this has left watching porn fairly boring. It’s interesting though that my body still seems to crave sexual release from time to time, albeit it not as often as prior to fin.

Anyway, I wanted to see what other people thought of this and if they had similar experiences. Has anyone else felt like they lost their sexuality while keeping most of their libido? (The two seem to often get thrown around interchangeably which is probably a mistake)

#2

my dick actually hurts since using finasteride, badly in fact, and it feels like a piece of shrunken rubber

#3

If masturbation becomes “boring” even though you do it a few times a week, you are affected.

#4

I agree. I have a need to masturbate. Not so much due to sex drive but more of a mental need to do it and attempt to gain sexual gratification which I haven’t had since my PFS disease. The masturbation is largely unpleasurable and the penis remains rubbery in feeling. I rarely have morning erections and if I do they are less than half mass (and certainly not useable erections). Genital numbness remains unimproved. I have had some shrinkage, most noticeably in girth. I do believe this is due to the lack of erections and blood engorgement. Impotence is a known cause of penile fibrosis (or scar tissue formation), so I think it is still important to masturbate or use a vacuum device to keep flow going.

#5

Yeah I would definitely say I’ve been “affected”…in a lot of ways. One of those ways is an impact on my libido, which I described in my original post. A lot of people seem to indicate a loss of sex drive, which is really what I think when I hear loss of “libido.” For me however, and described briefly in that video, my libido loss is more focused on a loss of response to visual stimulus as opposed to a loss of sex drive in general. To me, this seems like an important distinction to make. To be honest, I had never really heard of someone losing their feelings of attraction before. I thought that was pretty strongly wired in the brain, regardless of hormone levels. Maybe it’s a neurotransmitter thing…no idea really.

Anyway, It’d be cool to hear more back about this.

#6

IMO it is defeintely a neurotransmitter/neurosteroid root cause. I do find myself very slowly becoming more interested in sex/masturbation however. It is painstakingly slow and sometimes I feel I havent really progressed at all.

#7

I only used Fin for two days like you and what you describe pretty much fits my situation to a tee. I suppose the only difference is that my body often responds to visual stimuli but my mind doesn’t, at least not very much. What I mean by this is that looking at pictures and video that used to have me going in crazy in a matter of seconds now does lead up to an erection slowly but surely - the thing is that it’s all very bland emotionally. Sometimes for something really “cool” the erection happens quickly, is hard and I even feel kind of good emotionally. I definitely get more excited “IRL”, it’s just that doing things in private by myself used to be fantastic too. This “loss of sexuality” is the only side effect I still have and have had for a long time.

I should point out that I used an SSRI this year and those have a weakening effect on sexuality too, but I quit them three months ago and libido should definitely have returned by now. I definitely think it’s still Fin causing this at this point.

Sorry for the rather… blunt descriptions.

#8

I agree with the bodily response to visual stimulus. Watching porn gives me an erection but like you said, there’s no mental excitement really. Interestingly, masturbating without watching porn tends to be more exciting than with porn, which is a total switch than before taking fin. Whatever’s going on, it’s incredibly frustrating…it feels like a mental block around what I find attractive.

Do you have any brain fog?

#9

No brain fog or mental symptom of any kind. All I ever had was an inability to get an erection without physical stimulation and a complete loss of interest in anything sexual during those two days that I used the drug and that was enough for me. Since then, I suppose things have gradually, marginally improved to where they stand now. I’m actually inclined to think that I was at this point after about two-three months of quitting and this is probably where I’ve been since then. If progress has taken place it has been very minimal. I’m happy with every other section of my life and the only time I ever remember using Propecia is when I come across something “sexual” and realize that I haven’t had sexual thoughts at all for the entire day. It is very bothersome. It’s like everything else is okay but some switch for finding attractive women genuinely sexually arousing as opposed to just nice to look at has been switched off.

#10

In my situation I find woman attractive but I have a difficult time gettin.g aroused by erotic thoughts or porn. I van get semi aroused sometimes but not full. It will always require some sort of manual stimuli. My libido has improved a bit but no where close to pre fin state.

Perhaps this has to do with neurotransmitters being affected by fin?

I have some ups and downs. It fluctuates.

#11

I should also add that while I can get a “good” erection easily, I don’t believe I’ve had a “rock-hard” one for a good while. Most of them are, well, you can get the job done, but not as stiff as pre-Fin. Probably correlates with the fact that sexual things are not as exciting as they were pre-Fin. I am quite certain that about 10%-15%-20% of this is in my head as it’s difficult to be relaxed when you wonder if you’re okay.

Something neurotransmitter related seems logical. The message is sent but it doesn’t get through?

I suspect I could function sexually to an “acceptable” level, I certainly can by myself. It’s hard to say, I’m so bad with women that I haven’t had a chance to find out after taking Propecia : )