Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor used to block the formation of the potent androgen DHT from its precursor, testosterone. It is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia as well as male pattern baldness in men and women, and excessive facial or body hair growth in women.
Serum testosterone levels increase as a result of the reduced conversion to DHT, but the increase is not usually outside the normal range
. Treatment with finasteride has been linked with sexual side effects.
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