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MotherToBaby

Medications and More during pregnancy and breastfeeding

Finasteride

Selected References:

  • Ahn KH, et al. 2015. Pregnancy outcomes with paternal exposure to finasteride, a synthetic 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor: a case-series. J Clin Toxicol. 5:2 
  • AlSaad D, et al. 2018. Finasteride use during pregnancy and early neonatal outcome: a case report. Int J Clin Pharm. 40(4): 803-805.  
  • Amory JK, et al. 2007. The effect of 5- alpha-reductase inhibition with dutasteride and finasteride on semen parameters and serum hormones in healthy men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 92:1659-1665.  
  • Anderson CA, Clark RL. 1990. External genitalia of the rat: normal development and the histogenesis of 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor-induced abnormalities. Teratology. 42:483-496. 
  • Bowman CJ, et al. 2003. Effects of in utero exposure to finasteride on androgen-dependent reproductive development in the male rat. Toxicol Sci. 74:393-406. 
  • Carlin JR, et al. 1992. Disposition and pharmacokinetics of (14C) finasteride after oral administration in humans. Drug Metab Dispos. 20(2):148-155. 
  • Cather JC, et al. 1999. Finasteride – An update and review. Cutis. 64:167-172. 
  • Ciotta L, et al. 1995. Clinical and endocrine effects of finasteride, a 5(alpha)-reductase inhibitor, in women with idiopathic hirsutism. Fertil Steril. 64:299-306. 
  • Clark RL, et al: Critical developmental periods for effects on male rat genitalia induced by finasteride, a 5(alpha)-reductase inhibitor. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 119:34-40. 
  • Clark RL, et al. 1990. External genital abnormalities in male rats exposed in utero to finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor. Teratology. 42:91-100. 
  • Falsetti L, et al. 1997. Treatment of hirsutism by finasteride and flutamide in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Gynecol Endocrinol. 11(4):251-257. 
  • Husmann DA, McPhaul MJ. 1991. Time-specific androgen blockade with flutamide inhibits testicular descent in the rat. Endocrinology. 129(3):1409-1416. 
  • Gupta AK, Talukder M. 2022. Topical finasteride for male and female pattern hair loss: Is it a safe and effective alternative? J Cosmet Dermatol. 21(5), 1841-1848.  
  • Khera M, et al. 2020. Penile vascular abnormalities in young men with persistent side effects after finasteride use for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. Transl Androl Urol. 9(3): 1201-1209.  
  • Kohler C, et al. 2007. Effect of finasteride 5mg (Proscar) on acne and alopecia in female patients with normal serum levels of free testosterone. Gynecol Endocrinol. 23:142-145. 
  • Kurzrock EA, et al.  2000. Urethral development in the fetal rabbit and induction of hypospadias: a model for human development. J Urol. 164(5):1786-1792. 
  • Laborde E, Brannigan RE. 2010. Effect of 1-mg dose of finasteride on spermatogenesis and pregnancy. J Androl. 31(2): e1-2.  
  • Lumachi F, Rondinone R. 2003. Use of cyproterone acetate, finasteride, and spironolactone to treat idiopathic hirsutism. Fertil Steril. 79(4):942-946. 
  • Martinez AG, et al. 2011. Effects of in utero exposure to D-004, a lipid extract from Roystonea regia fruits, in the male rat: a comparison with finasteride. J Med Food. 14(12):1663-1669.  
  • Nabil I, et al. 2024. Protective role of hesperidin in finasteride-induced testicular toxicity in adult male Wistar rats: Insights into oxidative stress, apoptosis, and ultrastructure of seminiferous tubules. Reprod Toxicol.124:108535.  
  • Overstreet JW, et al. 1999. Chronic treatment with finasteride daily does not affect spermatogenesis or semen production in young men. J Urol. 162:1295-1300.  
  • Paris JJ, et al. 2011. Inhibition of 5 alpha reductase activity in late pregnancy decreases gestational length and fecundity and impairs object memory and central progestogen milieu of juvenile rat offspring. J Neuroendocrinol. 23(11):1079-1090.  
  • Prahalada S, et al. 1997. Effects of finasteride, a type 2 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, on fetal development in the Rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta). Teratology. 55(2):119-131. 
  • Propecia prescribing information. 2020. Accessible from https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=4e07adb4-7807-47d3-b9a9-2332a3047410#S12.3 Accessed June 2026. 
  • Ricci G, et al. 2012. Finasteride and fertility: case report and review of the literature. J Drugs Dermatol. 11(12):1511-1513. 
  • Rittmaster, RS, 1994. Drug Therapy: Finasteride. New Engl J Med 330(2):120-125.  
  • Salvarci A, Istanbulluoglu O. 2013. Secondary infertility due to use of low-dose finasteride. Int Urol Nephrol. 45(1):83-85. 
  • Samplaski MK, et al. 2013. Finasteride use in the male infertility population: effects on semen and hormone parameters. Fertil Steril. 100:1528-1529.  
  • Santana FFV, et al. 2023. Comparative effects of finasteride and minoxidil on the male reproductive organs: A systematic review of in vitro and in vivo evidence. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 478:116710. 
  • Spencer JR, et al. 1991. Effects of flutamide and finasteride on rat testicular descent. Endocrinology. 129(2):741-748. 
  • Teichert M, et al. 2017. Contraindicated use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors in women. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 83(2): 429-431 
  • Wise LD, et al. 1991. Reversible decreases of fertility in male Sprague-Dawley rats treated orally with finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor. Reprod Toxicol. 5:353-362.  
  • Zeng Y, et al. 2025. Safety concerns of paternal drug exposure on fertility, pregnancy and offspring: An analysis based on the FDA adverse event reporting system. Andrology. 13(6):1420-1431. 

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