Preventing Prostate Cancer with Finasteride: Effect on Sexual Function

Abstract

In several small controlled studies in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia who received therapy with the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride, investigators have reported two- to threefold higher risk for developing sexual dysfunction (e.g., decreased libido, impotence, and ejaculatory disorders) compared with men who did not receive finasteride. Because sexual dysfunction is multifactorial and is affected by age and many comorbid conditions, a large study is required to evaluate its true association with finasteride therapy. The Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial (PCPT) was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of …