Propecia at 18 too young?

[DMarte123]

I know many here have probably been prescribed Propecia at my age, but I may be a bit different in one sense -- I don't believe I've fully developed "down there." Not that my balls haven't descended or am void of public hair, though. It's more due to size. Both penis and balls. Haha, I know this sounds ridiculous but I'm hoping someone can have insight before I visit my doctor and ask his opinion.

Last doctor visit we briefly discussed Propecia but I was reluctant to take it before doing some research. This was last year. I recall information from a biology class I enrolled in several years ago where the professor mentioned that hormones involved with puberty are hypothesized to be triggered when certain genetic weight points are met. I'm underweight -- about 6'2, 170. As if we're all destined to be a predetermined weight. It's, as he put it, why children are going through puberty sooner. They're heavier at an earlier age. I've wondered whether gaining some weight would change anything. Maybe 190 is the weight where I'm supposed to experience penile growth, since it does grow independent of the rest of the body.

What I'm worried with is that I take Propecia and it somehow stunts my penis growth. Browsing the internet it's not uncommon for people to grow after this age. However, and this is what is interesting, I've had problems urinating immediately for quite some time. Like since I was in grade school. It isn't anything serious, but the two ways of looking at it are Propecia may actually be beneficial here (as well as hairloss) but mask any prostate problems in the future (as I have an enlarged prostate and may be at higher risk later in life.)

Just from an outside prospective on what I provided, would Propecia be something I should consider?

 

[medmax84]

I know many here have probably been prescribed Propecia at my age, but I may be a bit different in one sense -- I don't believe I've fully developed "down there." Not that my balls haven't descended or am void of public hair, though. It's more due to size. Both penis and balls. Haha, I know this sounds ridiculous but I'm hoping someone can have insight before I visit my doctor and ask his opinion.

Last doctor visit we briefly discussed Propecia but I was reluctant to take it before doing some research. This was last year. I recall information from a biology class I enrolled in several years ago where the professor mentioned that hormones involved with puberty are hypothesized to be triggered when certain genetic weight points are met. I'm underweight -- about 6'2, 170. As if we're all destined to be a predetermined weight. It's, as he put it, why children are going through puberty sooner. They're heavier at an earlier age. I've wondered whether gaining some weight would change anything. Maybe 190 is the weight where I'm supposed to experience penile growth, since it does grow independent of the rest of the body.

What I'm worried with is that I take Propecia and it somehow stunts my penis growth. Browsing the internet it's not uncommon for people to grow after this age. However, and this is what is interesting, I've had problems urinating immediately for quite some time. Like since I was in grade school. It isn't anything serious, but the two ways of looking at it are Propecia may actually be beneficial here (as well as hairloss) but mask any prostate problems in the future (as I have an enlarged prostate and may be at higher risk later in life.)

Just from an outside prospective on what I provided, would Propecia be something I should consider?

Difficulty with urination could be caused by a multitude of problems. I know it can be intimidating but you really need to broach this topic with your physician in an open and honest way.

Personally, while society thinks that development ends at 18, this is far from the truth. It doesn't turn off like a switch one day. It slows down over time as you reach maturity. If you are noticing thinning and recession, it is more than likely that you are a candidate for finasteride at 18. However, beginning hair loss in no way means that you are sexually developed. The increase in testosterone and DHT in the pubescent male skyrockets, which can kickstart balding in predisposed individuals in a big way DURING development. My hair began thinning at around the age of 18, but I developed quite a bit between 18 and 20. At this point, you need to have a conversation with your doctor using growth charts and your sexual maturity. By observing things like the development of armpit hair, pubic hair, muscle tone (VARIES), weight/height ratio, etc you can determine if you've reached or have nearly reached full maturity.

I know that I have thrown the very question back at you that you have hoped to get answered, but the truth is that without a full physical exam and history it is impossible to know whether you are fully developed. It's also important to keep in mind that DHT is only REDUCED with finasteride not eliminated... so even if you begin treatment, you are still going to have DHT floating around in your body.