Watery Semen

[wobblywilly 0]

Hi,

 

I've been taking finasteride, prescribed by Dr. Ashcroft for about four - five years now.

 

I had previously noticed that my semen was becoming more watery over time.

 

It seems like the carrier fluid is there in bulk but not the actual white part (sperm?).

 

I am concerned that i am doing long term or even irreversible damage by using finasteride.

 

I have just read a post in this subforum from someone reporting the same issue who states his urologist believes that finasteride may have narrowed the tubes carrying his sperm.

 

As a result of this I believe my only option is to stop usage of proscar as hair loss is the lesser of the two conditions.

 

Is anyone else in the same boat?

[Pondle 0]

I had a similar problem Willy. Finasteride doesn't seem to effect sperm production, but it does effect the functioning of the prostate gland, which makes most of the ejaculate. If you stop taking finasteride then your DHT levels return to their previous levels in two weeks, your prostate will start functioning normally again and after a few months your ejaculate should improve. It can take longer for some people than others.

 

[joe101 0]

I have the same problem too, last time I checked.

As long as it doesn't cause irreversable damage I'm loathe to stop taking Fin

 

maybe I'll stop when and if I ever try to concieve a child

[wobblywilly 0]

Has anyone spoken to Dr. Ashcroft about this?

 

I would like to get in contact with him about this before I start taking it again.

[Pondle 0]

Yes I did, he's very supportive, why don't you give him a ring.

 

[joe101 0]

Yes I did, he's very supportive, why don't you give him a ring.

 

are you still taking a break from Fin? Have you noticed any improvement?

 

Do you (or the doctors you've seen) think that continued use of Fin will eventually atrophy the prostate so that it gets completely destroyed altogether?

[wobblywilly 0]

Do you (or the doctors you've seen) think that continued use of Fin will eventually atrophy the prostate so that it gets completely destroyed altogether?

 

Good question - anyone in the know care to respond?

[Pondle 0]

Yes I did, he's very supportive, why don't you give him a ring.

 

are you still taking a break from Fin? Have you noticed any improvement?

 

Do you (or the doctors you've seen) think that continued use of Fin will eventually atrophy the prostate so that it gets completely destroyed altogether?

 

I'm still on a break from treatment, I do think that there's been an improvement in my semen quality although I might not be back to my pre-finasteride self quite yet.

 

I don't think that the prostate will be 'destroyed' by finasteride, after five years on the drug mine was normal shape and size for a man of my age - the problem was that it wasn't making the normal secretions it should have been! I talked to Dr Ashcroft and my local consultant and they were both quite reassuring, if I remember rightly they said that the prostate should respond to the rebound in DHT levels and it looks as if it is.

[joe101 0]

so in the end it's a choice between the lesser of the two evils I guess.

 

I wonder if cutting down the dose of Fin might help? say 1mg every other day, instead of every day.

[Pondle 0]

Well it's one year since I began my break from finasteride, I thought you guys might be interested in an update...

 

Regulars will remember that I'm a long-time forum poster and finasteride user. I started taking the drug in 2005 and only stopped last August when I noticed a dramatic decline in semen volume. Obviously I was worried about the impact on my fertility, so I consulted my GP and was referred to a specialist. Subsequent analysis gave mixed results: I had a high sperm count but low motility, which the consultant attributed to the lack of seminal fluid, caused by the long-term impact of finasteride.

 

Well anyway, in the months after stopping treatment my semen volume recovered somewhat, I met the woman who is now my fiancee, and she's now pregnant.

 

So it seems that - at least in my case - finasteride didn't have a permanent impact on my reproductive health. I'm reassured enough to tentatively return to the drug, albeit at a less frequent dose.

 

 

 

[joe101 0]

that's great news for you, Pondle.

 

Did you notice any increase in hairloss while you were off Fin?

 

what dose are you going to take now?

 

 

[Pondle 0]

Thanks Joe. I noticed hair shedding seemed to increase after about three months off finasteride - this was despite using Rogaine foam...

 

I'm going to take fin once every few days and see how it goes. At least I know that I can recover if I have any future problems.

 

[wobblywilly 0]

pondle, does a HT not interest you?

[Pondle 0]

I'm not that bald yet Willy - I'm basically a Norwood 2 with some thinning at the crown. The front is a little bit dodgy but as long as I don't use too much gel it's not overly apparent. I'd consider a HT long-term if things got substantially worse, but it's such a radical and costly step that it doesn't carry a lot of appeal for me.

 

[joe101 0]

I didn't think I was bad enough for a HT either, but recently I caught a look at the top of my head in a shop's CCTV and was aghast at how noticeable the crown thinning is.

 

I do have nanofibres but often don't use them. I may start using them every day now.

 

I can't see myself ever being able to afford a HT, so it's a moot point really.

[wobblywilly 0]

I'm not that bald yet Willy - I'm basically a Norwood 2 with some thinning at the crown. The front is a little bit dodgy but as long as I don't use too much gel it's not overly apparent. I'd consider a HT long-term if things got substantially worse, but it's such a radical and costly step that it doesn't carry a lot of appeal for me.

 

At what stage would you consider gettign a HT? I'm somewhere near Norwodd 2.5 and am thinking that if I am to get one it should be now, as later on in life it would be too noticable.

 

It is very difficult to get impartial information on this as everyone seems to have a vested interest.

 

[Pondle 0]

I think it has to be a personal decision Willy. I don't really have a Norwood rating threshold in mind when I'd say, "right, it's time for a HT". Some of the guys who have already had HTs - Spex, PB and others - might be help you think it through.

[Bobilero 0]

Hi, Just my 2 cents Ive been on Fin for 3 and half years. Have had watery semen since the beginning basically and a big drop in sperm volume.

 

I was 'Ok' with this side as im not currently looking to start a family. I did plenty of research of Fin before getting on it and always thought people were exaggerating and blaming Fin for sexual sides etc which were being caused by something else. However ive now learned the hard way.(Or not hard in this case!) Ive always been probably 'oversexed' but ive experienced in the last month or 2 an alarming drop in libido , disinterest in sex. Lack of 'Morning wood' etc etc.

 

This is an extremley worrying side effect considering the time ive been on the stuff. (i.e not a new user). Ive dropped the stuff completely now as of a week ago. Working out like crazy and keeping everything clean to get my levels and mojo back. This has caused a lot of problems (with the missus not least) who has suspected me off all sorts of stuff ! Its not a nice situation at all.

 

I think guys getting on this stuff need to respect how powerful a drug this really is as the sexual sides and loss of sex drive in my opinion are nowhere near in 2% level like the drug companies say. Looking around the net this issue seems to be rampant.

 

Im just hoping now things go back to normal in couple of weeks and ill then gotta make a decision to go back on a very low dose of fin. Maybe 1mg twice a week.? Or maybe try a herbal or topical solution. Im leaning towards giving Fin the boot altogether as this situation has shaken me up big time.

 

Pondle - Whats your take on cutting down dose or potential alternatives.? Interested to hear other opinions. cheers B

[joe101 0]

I cut down to 6x per week and I'm considering going down to 5x. I don't want to take too little in case it affects my hair

 

I think the side effects go through periods of being worse and better, and some of it might be psychological and dependent on other things going on in your body.

 

the rampant cynicism you see around the net is natural - people are far more likely to complain than they are to express satisfaction.

 

 

I also get pain when ejaculating, which I suspect might be caused by a lack of seminal fluid being produced

[Bobilero 0]

Joe - i think the issue now also concerning me is the lack of research on the long term effects obviously considering this has only been available for hairloss since 1997. Im planning a HT soon and i think i may just take my chances with that and some topicals and hopefully in the next 5-10 years stem cell research or the like comes through.

 

Are you not worried bout the ejaculation pain.? I must say that would put me off. Im not saying yourself but i think a lot of guys out there are convincing themselves that these sides are negligble as they are so attached to the excellent job it does in keeping your hair. I for one am finding them totally unacceptable even if they are (hopefully) temporary.

[joe101 0]

I don't know much about HTs - do you have to continue taking Fin after having one, or will the new hair be immune from MPB?

 

If I had the money I would consider it but at the moment I get away with using nano fibres.

 

yes I am concerned with the sides which is why I've cut down the dose, but the sides do seem to vary.

 

 

which topicals are you considering?

 

 

We keep reading about supposed new 'breakthroughs' just around the corner but I wonder if any of these have real potential.

[Bobilero 0]

Joe I was looking at saw palmetto and couple of other herbal alternatives. I'm in contact with dr Ashcroft who's been quite helpful. Just to update I've been off the fin for nearly 3 weeks now and it seems like everything is getting back to normal now. Big increase in libido returned. Morning wood etc back.

 

I'm considering taking fin again in the coming weeks twice a week. I'm still bit weary after these recent issues though.

[Bobilero 0]

Ps after a ht the new hair should be immune to MPB but you obviously wanna retain all that's around it best you can.

[PB_ 0]

"I think it has to be a personal decision Willy. I don't really have a Norwood rating threshold in mind when I'd say, "right, it's time for a HT". Some of the guys who have already had HTs - Spex, PB and others - might be help you think it through".

 

I was a NW5 when I had my first HT. found out a couple of years ago that I had an enlarged prostate (benign) so I could take finasteride for what it was originally intended for if i wanted. Seeing as I don't have any symptoms from the enlarged prostate I'm still not going to take the stuff. I only used finasteride for two weeks, once, so the enlarged prostate wasn't caused by meds, just age - I'm in my 50's.

[wobblywilly 0]

Got word from doctor who said they received no clear answer in regards to safety of Fin usage. Suggested that I see a dermatologist or trichologist for further study.