How does finasteride affect male fertility?

Question

Answer

Finasteride is a hormone that blocks the conversion of testosterone to a more potent hormone called DHT. It's used to reduce prostate size in older men or reduce male pattern baldness in younger men. It does have some hormonal effects and there is some evidence for reduction in sperm density whilst receiving finasteride. But these effects wear off over several months. So, if you're concerned and looking to have children, you should discuss the reasons you’re on finasteride with your doctor and consider whether it's really necessary for you to continue.

Learn more

Semen analysis fact sheet

Sperm health fact sheet

Storing your sperm fact sheet

Prof Rob McLachlan

Rob is a consultant andrologist and has been integral to Healthy Male from its inception as Andrology Australia in 2000. He has been Medical Director since 2006. In November 2020, Rob was awarded Life Membership of the Endocrine Society of Australia.

Over Rob’s 30 year career, he has been passionate about educating doctors and the community about male reproductive health, particularly to normalise discussion of sensitive topics and to encourage men to seek help from their GPs. He continues to develop evidence-based learning materials and tools needed for better health outcomes and to train the next generation of specialists in the field.

His research interests include male reproductive hormones, testosterone therapy, and male infertility. A past president of the Fertility Society of Australia, he has a strong connection in fertility practice and has raised the profile of infertile men involved in IVF. Rob has received several awards for his clinical research and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2016 for services to medicine in the field of endocrinology.