Warnings for Men and Women Using Finasteride or Dutasteride

Do NOT use finasteride or dutasteride if pregnant or planning on a pregnancy. Both of the 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors used to treat hair loss (finasteride and dutasteride) can cause serious birth defects if taken by women while pregnant.⁽²²⁾

These drugs are incredibly potent and take a very long time to break down in the human body. Because of this, doctors recommend the following: ⁽²²⁾

• Finasteride: continue to use birth control for at least 6 months after stopping finasteride treatment and before becoming pregnant.
• Dutasteride: should not be used at all by women capable of pregnancy because the risk of birth defect may continue for years.

Labels on both drugs warn that women who are pregnant should not even handle these medications. They advise that any pregnant woman who comes into contact with a broken or otherwise damaged capsule of either finasteride or dutasteride wash the area immediately with soap and water and to notify their health provider.^(80, 197)