Xmrv

General Discussion
#1

Another user on this website private messaged some time ago asking about whether I’d been tested for the XMRV virus which has been implicated in the majority of CFS patients (my doctor has agreed with this point, suggesting that much of the research to the contrary was not credible). I thought, given there is something of an overlap between the symptoms of CFS & PFS, that XMRV is known to affect the prostate & that a significant number of CFS patients have developed PFS after taking fin (or conversely, people who feel that using fin contributed to the onset of CFS), this could be an area worth investigating.

Anyway - I hope to be tested for it before December, although testing has only been recently available in Australia & there is a considerable waiting list ahead of me. My doctor also said there was an incubation period of two months. Has anyone else been tested for this? Or could it be considered a viable option? The science behind this all is hard for me to comprehend but I suppose we have to keep an open mind.

#2

If you are suggesting that the side effects of androgen deprivation and hypogonadism from Finasteride are a result of a virus, I doubt you will find much support for this “theory”. Why do people look for scapegoats other than the drug? Pointless, waste of time.

#3

On an iPhone so will be brief - 4% of people have XMRV. It remains dormant in most but I was thinking it could be something common to us that renders us pre-disposed to the sides from Fin. Was just interested to see if anyone had been tested. I don’t want to be taken to suggest it is a cause, I just wanted to know if it’s a plausible reason for why we get sides when most don’t ie some element that compromises our systems to begin with.

#4

In my opinion, having done a substantial amount of research into this, a key reason for why we reacted poorly while others did not is likely based on genetics – its certainly likely we share a common genetic trait that predisposes us to issues from inhibiting 5AR2/DHT/neurosteroids etc, especially considering some guys only get sides within a few days of starting the drug while others take months, years or often have no issues at all. If we are to believe the 2% of men get side effects claims of the manufacturer, are you suggesting that those 2% of men were pre-infected with XMRV and that is the reason for their side effects too?

Scientists are now recommending men be genotyped for 5AR2 enzyme variants to determine Finasteride response:
viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1407

They are also recommending Androgen Receptor CAG repeat testing which has been shown to determine Finasteride response:

hairdx.com
viewtopic.php?t=1406

Of course people can go get tested for “XMRV”, or whatever other unrelated idea they can come up with as the theory du jour, but in the end it will likely prove completely fruitless. The drug causes androgen deprivation first and foremost, and interferes with androgen metabolism. This idea that we were all infected with a “virus” and then took the drug which caused the virus to become active and cause decreased ejaculate, gynecomastia etc is ridiculous.

You are also trying to take 2 seperate conditions (ie, CFS vs hypogonadism/androgen ablation), and then come up with a theory to connect unrelated conditions to add them together, when in fact the symptoms of androgen deprivation/hypogonadism are clearly documented, and have been outlined as such by medical professionals liek Dr. Jacobs and Crisler as being a direct result of the drug. CFS does not cause gynecomastia, prostate atrophy, peyronie’s disease, decreased ejaculate, loss of spontaneous erections, ED and a host of other direct effects from Finasteride use. Such symptoms of androgen deprivation are listed by Merck as potential sides, but if you want to look for other scapegoats to explain your case, be my guest.

#5

it’s kind of similar to why certain people are predisposed to becoming alcoholics…