Finasteride, sold under the brand names Proscar and Propecia among others, is a medication used to treat hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia in men. It can also be used to treat excessive hair growth in women and as a part of hormone therapy for transgender women. It is taken by mouth.Finasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor and therefore an antiandrogen. It works by decreasing the production of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by about 70%, including in the prostate gland and the scalp.In addition to DHT, finasteride also inhibits the production of several anticonvulsant neurosteroids including allopregnanolone, androstanediol and THDOC.Adverse effects from finasteride are rare, however some men experience sexual dysfunction, depression, and breast enlargement. In some men, sexual dysfunction may persist after stopping the medication. It may also hide the early symptoms of certain forms of prostate cancer.Finasteride was patented in 1984 and approved for medical use in 1992. It is available as a generic medication. In 2019, it was the 86th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 8 million prescriptions. Medical uses
Finasteride is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate and for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in men. Enlarged prostate
Physicians sometimes prescribe finasteride for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), informally known as an enlarged prostate.
A urethrovaginal fistula is an abnormal passageway that may occur the urethra and the vagina. It is a sub-set of vaginal fistulas. It results in urinary incontinence as urine continually leaves the vagina. It can occur as an obstetrical complication, catheter insertion injury or a surgical injury.It is also called a urethral fistula and may be referred to as UVF. They are quite rare. In the developed world, they are typically due to injuries due to medical activity. == References ==