Would like advice re: Propecia etc from guys with mild balding

[WolfRider]

Hi there,

My hairline has been thinning since I'm 24, I'm 28 now.

When I was about 26/27 I was forced to do my hair in a certain way to cover up my receding hairline. Even so, it was never noticeable then. But at 28, I am becoming very limited in what I can do with my hair and still cover up my balding, and sometimes my receding hairline is noticeable without me even realising (which really freaks me out as this has never happened before). My balding can't be that heavy, as I still have 75%+ of my hair, and people sometimes say they thought I was 21 or 22 years old, but it is getting increasingly hard to hide my shame.

Crisis time! I think about my hair 24/7. At work. When I go out. My confidence has taken a massive knock. I am always worrying if my receding hairline is exposed. Whenever I look in a mirror it feels like I am being punched in the gut. So, I am starting to turn this minor problem into a serious obsession.

I just went to the Belgravia Centre in London for a check up and advice. I could tell it was a bit of a scam when I walked through the door. They didn't tell me about Propecia's side effects adequately, for example, and claimed I would see results after 3 months, etc. They also didn't talk about the possibility of shedding, etc. and the service they offered was massively overpriced considering you can buy what they sell on their "programs" for much cheaper elsewhere.

Okay, so to get to my point. I reckon I have stage I balding. Belgravia say II. Whatever, I am balding and the hair is thinning on top. People don't notice it but I am sick of having to spend so much time trying to hide my balding. I am very seriously thinking of going on Propecia.

It's hard to sift through advice online. Firstly, there seem to be tons of scam success-stories. Secondly, some of the posts people make (understandably, I am not knocking you) are full of paranoia, with claims that Propecia is making one's hair fall out, thinning hair, ruining lives, etc. I am not looking for emotional responses (although, again, I am not knocking people who do this ... I totally understand how you feel!).

All I want is some balanced advice from someone who knows the facts.

1. Does Propecia work, and if so in what percentage of people?
2. Does Propecia really make you shed (this kinda scares me)?
3. And how many of you have experienced sexual dysfunction, or side effects, because of it?

I really want to grow back just the little bit of hair I feel I need to be comfortable again. I hate having a receding hairline, as you can see. It has made me feel old all of a sudden, and changed the whole way I look at life. Just losing a little bit of hair has done all of this in one instant; making me take stock of my whole existence; becoming wistful and nostalgic. I know the problem really is my insecurities and how I feel about myself ... I have always been very sensitive and self-concscious. Yes, the vanity is now coming back to bite me, but I am just exploring the options I have.

Thanks for listening to this rant! And I look forward to any replies.