Does Minoxidil (Rogaine) worsen gynecomastia?

[fiak]

Reposting this from the general forum:

Does using Minoxidil (trade name Rogaine in the United States) make gynecomastia worse, or cause it?

I have gynecomastia and have recently started balding. My doctor recommended Minoxidil 5% to be applied on the scalp twice a day. I am skeptical of using it, especially because it seems that even experts do not really know the mechanism by which Minoxidil helps hair loss.

Some websites mention gynecomastia as one of the side effects of Minoxidil, though further search online seems to suggest that it is rare.

It seems to be Finastride, another drug often recommended for baldness, which is much more frequently implicated in gynecomastia. I am certainly not using that one, after reading some disturbing reports online. I would rather have a bald head than enlarged breasts, sexual dysfunction, and other side effects of Finastride.

Does anyone have any experience of a link between Minoxidil and gynecomastia, either in their own case or that of others? Would you know how Minoxidil works?

This question has been asked before, but there weren't many replies. I hope there are some now.

[Dr. Elliot Jacobs]

As far as I am aware, Minoxidil does not cause gynecomastia.

Propecia, also used for hair loss, has gynecomastia as a side effect - but not for everyone.  There are no tests to know who would develop gyne from Propecia.

Dr Jacobs

[Litlriki]

I'm also unaware of any link between Minoxidil and gynecomastia. 

Rick Silverman