What is Propecia?

Hair loss is one of the most common conditions that people experience and it’s typical to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. It’s likely that you don’t even notice that this is happening and, as such, it’s no great cause for concern.

However, if your hair starts to fall out faster than this, it could be a symptom of an underlying medical condition and treatment may be required. If you’re worried about thinning or hair loss, it can be beneficial to seek further medical advice.

There are various causes for hair loss, including genetics (such as male or female pattern baldness), stress, illness or weight loss, as well as cancer treatment. It can be beneficial to identify the underlying cause of the condition to determine the best course of treatment.

Medication is available to help slow hair loss and encourage regrowth, such as Propecia. This is available here at MENS once you’ve completed a confidential medical questionnaire with our UK-based certified prescriber.

How does Propecia work?

Propecia is a prescription-only medication, available in 1mg doses, which can be taken to treat hair loss and male pattern baldness.

Its active ingredient is finasteride, which is a 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor that stops enzymes from converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that causes hair loss in men.

These tablets can be taken to reduce DHT levels in the body to 60 per cent or less, which both helps to stop the progression of hair loss and helps to promote new growth at the same time.

How to take Propecia

One tablet should be taken once a day, with or without food. Tablets should be taken regularly as part of a daily routine in order to see the desired results.

It’s important to take this medication as prescribed. Do not increase the dosage yourself. If you believe the treatment isn’t as effective as you expected, seek further medical advice.

It typically takes Propecia between three and six months to see the effects and it’s important to remember that immediate results will not be seen. You may not even see results until 12 months, so it’s important to continue taking the medication each day.

If you stop taking the tablets, it is likely that your hair loss will resume at the same rate it was at before you started taking the medication.

Are there any side-effects to taking Propecia?

As with any medication, there is a risk of side-effects when taking Propecia. These include:

– Nipple tenderness or rash
– Reduced sex drive
– Erectile dysfunction
– Changes in ejaculation

If you’re worried about any side-effects or have any health questions, it may be beneficial to seek further advice from a medical professional.

You are able to string Propecia online here at MENS following a confidential online consultation with our UK-based certified prescriber.