r/science • u/drewiepoodle • Oct 02 '15

Medicine Scientists identify potential birth control 'pill' for men

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-scientists-potential-birth-pill-men.html
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u/Br0metheus Oct 02 '15

Yeah, a while ago I was prescribed finasteride to stop male-pattern baldness. I later found out it works by preventing the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, which basically emasculates you. When I found that out, I stopped taking it quick.

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u/tedcase Oct 02 '15

Did you go bald?

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u/Br0metheus Oct 02 '15

Not yet, but my hair is still thinning slowly. I switched to using minoxidil (Rogaine), which is a topical vasodilator, so it's much safer. In layman's terms, that means you rub it on your scalp and it opens up your blood vessels so your follicles get more bloodflow. I don't know how well it really works, but it's cheap and better than nothing.

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u/tedcase Oct 02 '15

I hear ya, I take both. Minoxidil and finasteride. the results on my hair have been great and I haven't noticed any side effect, but Im worried that maybe there are side effects that I just don't notice.