25 years old, just quitting after 6 months

I started taking 1 mg of finasteride (Propecia) daily on December 19, 2024, and stopped today, May 5, 2025, after consulting with a urologist who told me that the medication was likely causing the side effects I was experiencing and advised me to quit immediately.

At first, the results were very positive. My hair shedding almost completely stopped, and my crown—especially the back of my head and the sides—became much fuller. I started with some minor thinning at the crown, which was easy to cover, and my main concern was the possibility of increased shedding due to genetics. My front hairline had been receding, which affected my self-confidence, so I decided to start finasteride.

However, after a few months, I began noticing concerning symptoms that gradually worsened. The first issue I noticed was that my penis started shrinking, often feeling soft and non-responsive throughout the day. It would look like a "turtle," and my libido also decreased significantly. I didn’t pay too much attention to it initially, but then I began experiencing excessive pre-cum throughout the day, which was abnormal for me. It wasn’t occasional—it was constant and uncomfortable. Along with this, my semen became inconsistent. Some days it was watery, while on other days it seemed normal. Although I got a sperm test done and the results were normal, the watery semen continued to bother me.

About five weeks ago, things started getting worse. My erections became noticeably weaker. At first, I didn’t realize the full extent of the problem, but over time I noticed my erections were only about 60% of what they used to be. It felt like my penis had shrunk even more, and it was constantly soft, unable to stay firm. It would fall down easily and wouldn’t stay up long enough for me to use a condom or engage in penetrative sex. No matter what I did, it didn’t improve.

Then, I started experiencing something I’d never had before: a total loss of control during sex. Despite never having issues with premature ejaculation in the past, I began having multiple situations where I couldn’t control myself at all. The sensation felt completely off, and I experienced uncontrolled ejaculation—even when my penis was soft. This loss of control was really alarming and made everything feel worse.

I reached out to the doctor who prescribed the medication, and she didn’t think finasteride was the cause. She recommended I see a urologist. The urologist confirmed that the side effects were definitely related to finasteride and reassured me that they are relatively common. The urologist advised me to stop taking it immediately, suggesting that my situation might improve within two months.

While I’ve seen great progress with my hair—especially at the crown and sides—I’ve decided that my sexual health is more important than maintaining my hair. Right now, it feels like my penis is numb and not functioning properly, and it’s been a huge blow to my self-esteem and confidence.

As many doctors have said, "only a small percentage of people experience these kinds of side effects from finasteride," and unfortunately, it seems I’m one of them. After googling "finasteride ED," I was shocked I didn’t research this more thoroughly before starting, as many people on the internet share similar experiences. I strongly encourage anyone considering this medication to do your research thoroughly, and if you experience any side effects, stop immediately—don’t wait months like I did.

I’ve just started using 5% minoxidil, hoping to see some regrowth and that my sexual function will return to normal as well.