Scientists believe that men may be putting their sexual health at risk by using a particular drug used to cure baldness. The drug in question – Propecia – is made by the well known pharmaceutical firm, Merck.

Merck is aware of the problem however, and has mentioned the potential side effects on their web site. The company also states that these problems will eventually disappear.

The pharmaceutical company also told the BBC news recently: “Merck says they continually monitor its safety and have recently changed the labelling after reports of sexual side effects continuing after people had stopped taking the drug. They also claim those cases … could be caused by something other than Propecia itself.”

However many doctors are concerned that the drug itself is not labelled accurately; they are also particularly concerned with one of the side effects, namely impotency. Doctors say that while this may be temporary for most men after they stop taking the medication, others suffer complete impotency.

The issue was raised after a 26 year old said that after taking Procepia he noticed a marked decrease in any sexual interest. Weeks later he found out he was impotent. What’s more, despite having 6 months of testosterone treatment his sexual health was not restored. His physician recommended a penile implant.

One US doctor is rather scathing about Procepia. He said: “Propecia has been heavily promoted directly to American men in TV commercials and male-oriented magazines. Its promise is an alluring one: Let’s make hair loss history.”

He added: “Propecia claims that nine out of 10 men with mild to moderate male pattern hair loss on the top or middle front of their head will experience visible results…But behind the images of impressive results showing men’s baldness practically disappearing is a disturbing side effect that is barely talked about despite the drug’s popularity: impotence.”