Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hi all. I read that it's common for Finasteride to cause depression and libido impotency in cis people but can't find much information on its effect on both categories in trans people. We all know that Spironolactone alone already affects mood and libido but my question is, once you added Finasteride to your regime, did it worsen both for you even further? Thanks!

Quote from: Urban Christina on May 05, 2015, 11:24:01 AM
Hi all. I read that it's common for Finasteride to cause depression and libido impotency in cis people but can't find much information on its effect on both categories in trans people. We all know that Spironolactone alone already affects mood and libido but my question is, once you added Finasteride to your regime, did it worsen both for you even further? Thanks!

I took finasteride for a few months, and currently have taken dutasteride for 6 months. It hasn't had any impact on my emotionally. Sexually, it hasn't impaired function for me, only libido. Then again I've been taking spiro for the whole time so the loss of libido is likely due to that!

Thanks. Did it give you fuller hair and reduced body hair?

I started Finasteride about 4 months before HRT. For me it made me happier than anything else. It could be a placebo effect, but I also thing it's because I have a female brain. I think the cis-males with a extreme male brain have the depression issues IMHO.

Finasteride did help my hair and aided in my body changes to become more feminine, even a little prior to HRT. I didn't realize this until I went back and looked at some pictures before and after HRT and noticed some very minor feminization in the pictures in the 4 month period between starting finasteride and HRT. I have continued to take finasteride after HRT and my doctor believed that it helps aid HRT and I think she it right about that.

It did help reduce body hair (not as much as HRT but did reduce it) and made a big difference on my head hair. I still have a widows peak, but my hairline isn't overly masculine anymore with nearly 17 months HRT and 21 months of finasteride. I can wear a low ponytail and my hairline still looks very feminine.

I remember seeing one of your first avatars a long time ago- wow what a difference! Your hair definitely looks more filled in now.

I've been on the product for eighteen months now I think? Wow time flies. Anyway I have had no sexual side effects from it. I started it 3 months after beginning HRT. I have had a rather embarrassing bald spot fill in and my hair line move forward again. Otherwise expect a shocker as for the first few months it accelerates shedding of hair as it restarts the growth cycles. And then after that everything starts coming back better than ever.

I've seen warnings about hair shedding before the start. Does it mean all of your hair fall out like a cancer patient or just certain ones?

They didn't mean it in that way. What it means you can continue to lose hair for a bit. Hugs
Mariah

Really sounds like this is worth incorporating, especially for anyone who has already experienced some receding hairs. 

I wonder if it is effective on hair receding at temples?

I believe so, its not selective, depending on how old and how long the loss has been...

Check with your Dr to be certain...

L Katy

I have taken Finasteride for more than 1 year for the purpose of preventing hair loss. The dosage is weak, and I do not see any noticeable effect except a few hairs growing out from my EARS, which I think is weird.

barbie~~

Quote from: Urban Christina on May 05, 2015, 11:24:01 AM
Hi all. I read that it's common for Finasteride to cause depression and libido impotency in cis people but can't find much information on its effect on both categories in trans people. We all know that Spironolactone alone already affects mood and libido but my question is, once you added Finasteride to your regime, did it worsen both for you even further? Thanks!

I can attest as well that taking it didn't really give me any side effects at all. And it grew my hair back significantly. I wasn't able to have a deathhawk (goth mohawk) prior to using it. Very happy with the results. I think if mood and libido are your concern, definitely talk to your doctor or endo, if you are seeing one. They are surprisingly understanding, and will probably allow to dose slowly at first. I was scared to mention especially the libido part, as having a healthy sex life is important to me, and my doc was totally non-judgemental. ^_^

I'm not into my third month of low dose.

I think it's affected my libido a little, but I'm pretty happy with that. I'm still completely functional, just not as overwhelmingly driven anymore.