Study: Prostate drug won't hurt sexuality

SEATTLE, July 20 (UPI) -- Finasteride, a drug that can reduce the incidence of prostate cancer, does not cause long-term sexual dysfunction, say Seattle researchers.

Researchers at the Seattle-based Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center reviewed data on more than 17,000 men on finasteride and assessed their sexual function with two surveys, the widely used Sexual Problems Scale and a questionnaire they created called the Sexual Activity Scale.

Information on participants' age, medical conditions, and smoking status was included in the data.

The results showed that all symptoms of sexual dysfunction associated with the drug diminished over time.

The researchers conducted the surveys to follow up on an earlier study involving 18,000 subjects. Although the researchers showed the drug reduced the incidence of prostate cancer almost 25 percent, some participants reported sexual dysfunction.

Since the earlier trial was short-term and didn't factor in the effects of age, other health factors, and individual variation, the researchers felt another study was warranted.

The study is published in the July 4 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.