I am a 20 year old male undergoing treatment for hair loss. When I first visited the dermatologist, I was already around Norwood 3. He prescribed only topical minoxidil. I knew minoxidil would cause shedding and did not expect visible results until at least the one-year mark, so I used it patiently. But after six months, instead of any improvement, my shedding increased and my overall density worsened across the hairline, crown, and even the back and sides. Areas that were originally thick became noticeably thinner. I kept informing him, but he insisted everything was fine.
He continued pushing the idea of a hair transplant later in my college years, even though my thinning has not been stabilized. When I asked about DHT blockers like finasteride or dutasteride, he refused and told my father they could cause depression, infertility, or even suicidal thoughts, I already knew about these because I am lurking in this subreddit for a long time. This frightened my Dad and made him take the doctor’s side.
I explained that I will be 21 soon, that I am capable of making my own medical decisions, and that I do not want children at all. Still, he dismissed my concerns and made me appear unreasonable in front of my father. At one point, the dermatologist even told me that I “think like this because I do not have a girlfriend,” and that I “won’t be able to marry anyone,” which was both dismissive and unprofessional.He also claimed that medications like finasteride or minoxidil would not be required after a transplant, which contradicts widely accepted medical guidance.
I kept wondering there: am I wrong for believing that having children is not important for me? Am I wrong for having my own opinion about my life? And if I ever decide to be a parent, can I not adopt a child instead?
TL;DR: I’m 20 male, in college and at NW3. My dermatologist refuses to prescribe DHT blockers, saying my age is too low, and keeps pushing hair transplant instead. When I asked if I’d still need finax or minox after transplant (because I’ve heard horror stories where patients didn’t use them and hair kept falling), he said no. He also says I can’t have kids if I start taking finasteride, won’t be able to marry anyone, and that my opinions about not wanting children come from not having a girlfriend. He dismisses my concerns about thinning hair, including crown and donor areas.
