As of this writing, this story is in the top right corner of the page
directly under a picture of Steve Ballmer.
Bad news for bothered baldies today, as boffins report that chemicals found in popular hair-loss medications can cause persistent lack of rigour in the trouser department. The new study, carried out by Dr Abdulmaged Traish of the Boston uni medical school and his colleagues, looks into the health effects of the 5α-reductase …
Bodybuilders have known for years that pharmaceuticals should be taken in combination with others to offset side effects. That's why despite media hysteria over steroids (or anything manmade), every Mr Olympia since inception are still alive and they're healthy, happy family men.
In the case of pharmaceutical hair loss treatments like Propecia or Avodart, it would be advantageous to take a male fertility drug such as HCG or Clomid to maintain the sexual functions. The combination would raise sex hormone levels without the need for exogenous testosterone. I would also recommend adding an anti-aromatase (Tamoxifen, Femara or Arimadex - although the Clomid mentioned also works) to the stack to prevent excess testosterone converting to estrogen.
Hey, here's a drug for the mildly annoying problem you have. The drug company rep is pushing it really hard and I get a bunch of cool free stuff for getting people onto it. It's got all these nasty side effects though, so you'll need these other drugs to counteract them. Here's another handful of pills to counteract the side effects of those ones. And here's the number for an attorney you can call in 5 years when we have to pull some of these bad boys off the market because some weak people died and stuff after taking them. Selfish bastards.
Now be a good little consumer and remember, ASK YOUR DOCTOR about blah blah blah...oh nearly forgot here's your free Mycoxaflopin pen and bumper sticker. Be sure to display them prominently! Have a nice day!
..doesn't get many (any) of the 'Ask you doctor about..' adverts on TV (not sure if they are allowed). It's one of the first things I noticed about US TV- loads of adverts (at weird times in the programme) and most seem to be selling drugs that were not over the counter. Can't be a good thing.
It tends to be short for a while, and then I forget to go the barbers. End result, I look something like Jack Nicholson after a day of sailing/hiking. I go for the eccentric fluffy look.
@Naughtyhorse: Too bloody right. When I was 18 my mum tried getting me to use rogaine. She was told in no uncertain terms that it'd be a waste of money as I refused to use anything like that.
Male pattern baldness... linked to testosterone. Male libido... linked to testosterone.
Hint: eunuchs tend to keep a full head of hair.
The side effects of finasteride can't possibly have been unknown for all this time; hell, anyone with 5 minutes and an internet connection could work this out for themselves. This study has about as much value as the much touted ursine toiletry research that is oft mentioned in the Reg's comment threads.
These drugs are basically testosterone inhibitors. They are therefore good at stopping things that testosterone causes such as male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement. Testosterone is also responsible for things like libido which you might want to keep.
Nice to have some figures on it though.
Keep my libido? Pah humbug - I could have done with losing it 15 years ago, before I filled my house with expensive brats.
I'd like to become bald (to save money on haircuts) AND impotent (to save money fullstop); what meds do I need to take?
Bill...'cos I've got more hair, more kids and less money than him. I'm sure none of that is co-incidence.
I don't give a rat's ass what is, or isn't, growing out of my scalp. Nor do I care what colo(u)r it is. Worrying about how my maternal grandfather came about his genetics is is kinda pointless, when you think about it.
If you don't grok where I'm coming from, you obviously haven't thought about it. And if you think about it too much, mayhap that's where your impotence issues arise(sic)?
So if I read the article well, some old-ish patients take the medication because they are unlucky with women; as a result of the cure they find themselves lucky(er) only to discover that Charles the Bald* is not up to the task... then they blame the medicine? Erm... first time it happens to me, honest. Must be the medicine. Yeah right!
*hehehehehehe
"These drugs are basically testosterone inhibitors. They are therefore good at stopping things that testosterone causes such as male pattern baldness and prostate enlargement. Testosterone is also responsible for things like libido which you might want to keep."
The drugs are not testosterone inhibitors. They block the action of "dihydrotestosterone" (DHT) at the hair follicle in genetically susceptible men. Big difference.
"The side effects of finasteride can't possibly have been unknown for all this time; hell, anyone with 5 minutes and an internet connection could work this out for themselves."
I took Propecia and the stronger Avodart for almost 4 years and never had a problem with them, except looking back I was wasting my time and money with them. Side effects of a sexual nature really boil down to a individual's genetic response. Regardless, hair transplantation is the best long term option. But baldness has been proven for hundreds of years to be stylish if done right.
Telling guys they should just be bald is just dumb. Some guys may be quite happy looking like a slaphead or a football hooligan or whatever. If you are happy being bald then thats fine for you. Its like saying guys shouldn't have nice clothes or otherwise care how they look. There seems to be some weird macho thing that caring about your appearance is somehow wrong. Some of us would rather have hair. TBH I'm married, I've been married a while. I see my reflection in a mirror or whatever far more than I get to use my dick. On a pragmatic basis I would far rather be impotent than bald. Its not a choice I should have to make really, thats the shame of it.