I started experiencing hair loss on the crown and hairline at about 23 years of age.
Out of desperation, despite hearing all the horror stories, I obtained a prescription for Propecia(1-mg) from my doctor.
The first three weeks on the medication I did experience some side effects: mild testicular pain, tenderness of breast, and a reduction of my ejaculate.
Luckily after the third week my side effects subsided and everything was back to normal. I suspect my body adjusted to the medication - this drug does tamper with your hormones.
On a positive not, I experienced pretty impressive results on the medication.
At around 3-4 month mark I noticed my hair loss had completely stopped and the quality of my hair was like night and day.
Pre-Propecia, my hair was dry, brittle, and lifeless. I also had terrible issues with dandruff/itchy scalp that magically went away once I got on the medication. I am not sure if hair loss and itchy scalps are related.
At about the 9 month mark, the bald spot on my crown had completely filled in and my hairline was a lot stronger. The hairs that were miniaturizing had grown back to normal hairs.
I totally understand a man's reluctance to get on a medication that has the potential to extinguish his sex drive, but I think the claims may be a little exaggerated.
I believe most men who are on this medication get decent result with mild to no side effects and therefore don't feel the need to report about it(like myself).
It's the small minority of men who experience negative side effects that make a lot of noise on forums that spook the masses.
For guys in there 20s who are experiencing aggressive hair loss due to male-patter-baldness, Propecia is the only thing I have found that not only halts hair loss, but regrows hair on the crown and hairline.
I know some men will give you shit for being "insecure" and caring about something superficial like hair; they may even tell you to shave it all off.
That might fly for some guys who have the right face/head, but for most men - the difference of having hair and not having hair is enormous.
There's a reason only a minuscule amount of male models sport a shaved head.
Lastly, since my hair is in a really good state I have since reduced my dosage of Propecia to 1-mg every other day as opposed to 1-mg daily.