A link between the use of the hair loss drug Propecia and the development of sexual dysfunction, researchers have found. The drug is prescribed to men with androgenic alopecia to increase hair growth. Sexual problems may persist even after stopping the medication, the George Washington University study found. The scientists tracked the health of 54 men with an average age of 31 years who experienced side effects three or more months after using the medication. Participants reported a variety of sexual problems, including difficulty achieving orgasm, erectile dysfunction, low libido, painful genitals. Some men are also affected by neurological problems, such as depression, anxiety and cognitive difficulties. In 96% of the participants, sexual problems continued for more than a year after stopping the intake. NEWS_MORE_BOX Before using the medication, the men had not used any other type of oral prescription medication. They also have no sexual, medical or psychiatric complaints, the team said. For most of those who develop persistent sexual side effects despite stopping the drug, sexual dysfunction remains a problem for months or years, explains Michael Irwig, MD, of the Andrology Center and Division of Endocrinology at George Washington University. Several studies have already shown the development of erectile function caused by 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. However, the persistent nature of these changes is still the subject of active scientific research. The results of the new study are published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.