Man's use of generic form of Propecia changes his genetics

[Initech]

A software engineer who was trying to combat hair loss says a generic form of Propecia caused him to develop breasts and made his hips widen like a woman's.

And now, after nine months of taking finasteride, 38-year-old William McKee goes by the name Mandi and is considering having a complete sex change.

"My rock-hard chest from the gym began to soften . . . reaching the point where I had noticeable 'breasts' even under my clothing," McKee told the New York Post.

"My shoulders were literally falling into a more feminine position, and my hips were loosening and becoming wider as on a woman's body."

The changes have left McKee's former life in disarray. He is now separated from his wife of 10 years, with whom he has a five-year-old son. The Tampa, Florida, resident has also left his career in Silicon Valley behind, now describing himself as an aspiring music producer and DJ.

Describing his former self as "athletic and driven," McKee now wears a blonde wig, makeup, women's clothing and says he is thinking of having breast augmentation. In addition, McKee says he has gone from heterosexual to homosexual.

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/propecia-turned-woman-man-claims-235329178.html

Apparently the generic version of the drug is the same one that's given to transgender patients.

[Lint Head]

1. I've taken it for years with no real side effects. My breasts are normal and the

frisky side is ok also. Hope this is not too much info for DU.

[tanyev]

2. If he didn't want this to happen, couldn't he have just stopped taking it?

[MercutioATC]

3. Exactly. Who just starts wearing women's clothing??

I'm not doubting the claimed effects of the drug, but it sounds as if he had issues with his gender beforehand.

[Initech]

5. Yeah that's the part I'm having a hard time comprehending.

[rurallib]

4. Wonder if his hair loss stopped after all that?

Kind of be a shame if it didn't. Says he is wearing a wig.

[longship]

6. I used Propecia and it turned me into a newt!

But I got better.

[DavidDvorkin]

7. I've never understood the urge to fight hair loss.

[dipsydoodle]

8. Neither have I other than the fact

that these days I wish I could have dreadlocks instead of a #1.

[DetlefK]

9. It changed the bone-structure of a grown-up?

The only cases I have heard of, when the bone-structure was changed in an adult, it was due to physical necessity. For example: A work-out to gain muscles causes bones to become more rectangular (so the additional force can be applied in a more efficient way?). Or a repetitive movement with a limb causes its bones to grow thicker, e.g. for a carpenter or stone-cutter.

And I heavily doubt, it turned him gay. Male homosexuality is a side-effect of a fertility-increasing genetic mutation of the mother.