Hello,
I don't even know where to start.
I'm a middle eastern guy from Kuwait. 5 years ago I was studying in Australia where my hair started falling when I was 21. I started taking Avodart (Dutasteride) about a year later. My doctor told me that side effects are rare and that even if you get them they will subside with time, or when I stop the pills. I had sexual side effects within the first month but stuck with the drug for 2 years until around early december last year because I had a girlfriend and was getting sick of the side effects. which are basically lowered labido and weak erections.
My doctor assured me that the side effects would go away once I stop the drug. Unfortunately they haven't. it's been 4 months and the sexual side effects are worse now. my labido is still low, my erections are much weaker, and I also have very little semen coming out when I ejaculate. Ive noticed I can go a week and more without mastrubating which is very unusual for me even when I was on the drug.
To make matters worse I graduated from australia in January this year and I had to go back to Kuwait. I saw the doctors here and told them my story. their first impression is that it's all in my head. they said that the drug has no permanent side effects.
one doctor who assumed I was muslim (i'm not) told me that there is no way for me to know that my penis is not working because I'm not married. The presumption here being that you are only supposed to use your penis for intercourse with your wife and absolutely nothing else. needless to say this absolutely infuriated me and I ended up feeling bad about it all day.
Regardless the doctor still made me get a blood test to check my hormones just to make sure. My results will come out next week. But i'm worried that they will brush me off again like they did today. because of religious reasons or because my problem isn't medically accepted.
Im also worried that the blood test will not show anything. I asked my doctor in australia for a hormone test before I graduated, and I remember him telling me that a hormone test won't really show anything in my case, I don't remember why exactly but I think it's because a hormone test doesn't measure DHT or something. so I'm worried that will give the doctors here another reason to brush me off as a non problem.
Guys I know that persistent side effects from these drugs are a controversial topic. I read online a bit and there seems to be a lot of exaggeration and fear mongering concerning these issues. But please believe me that im not exaggerating. my issue is very real. I wish I could prove it somehow. but I know it's not in my head. My girlfriend knows it's not in my head as well.
Please help, I don't know what to do and I'm really worried that I will have to live with this permanently.
I don't even know where to start.
I'm a middle eastern guy from Kuwait. 5 years ago I was studying in Australia where my hair started falling when I was 21. I started taking Avodart (Dutasteride) about a year later. My doctor told me that side effects are rare and that even if you get them they will subside with time, or when I stop the pills. I had sexual side effects within the first month but stuck with the drug for 2 years until around early december last year because I had a girlfriend and was getting sick of the side effects. which are basically lowered labido and weak erections.
My doctor assured me that the side effects would go away once I stop the drug. Unfortunately they haven't. it's been 4 months and the sexual side effects are worse now. my labido is still low, my erections are much weaker, and I also have very little semen coming out when I ejaculate. Ive noticed I can go a week and more without mastrubating which is very unusual for me even when I was on the drug.
To make matters worse I graduated from australia in January this year and I had to go back to Kuwait. I saw the doctors here and told them my story. their first impression is that it's all in my head. they said that the drug has no permanent side effects.
one doctor who assumed I was muslim (i'm not) told me that there is no way for me to know that my penis is not working because I'm not married. The presumption here being that you are only supposed to use your penis for intercourse with your wife and absolutely nothing else. needless to say this absolutely infuriated me and I ended up feeling bad about it all day.
Regardless the doctor still made me get a blood test to check my hormones just to make sure. My results will come out next week. But i'm worried that they will brush me off again like they did today. because of religious reasons or because my problem isn't medically accepted.
Im also worried that the blood test will not show anything. I asked my doctor in australia for a hormone test before I graduated, and I remember him telling me that a hormone test won't really show anything in my case, I don't remember why exactly but I think it's because a hormone test doesn't measure DHT or something. so I'm worried that will give the doctors here another reason to brush me off as a non problem.
Guys I know that persistent side effects from these drugs are a controversial topic. I read online a bit and there seems to be a lot of exaggeration and fear mongering concerning these issues. But please believe me that im not exaggerating. my issue is very real. I wish I could prove it somehow. but I know it's not in my head. My girlfriend knows it's not in my head as well.
Please help, I don't know what to do and I'm really worried that I will have to live with this permanently.