Just for reference, the overall incidence of finasteride side effects is 1.5% (USA data). Individual side effects have higher or lower incidences. For people with the worst side effects, ie sexual (eg erectile dysfunction) & psychological, discontinuation of finasteride results in side effect cessation in only around 70-80%. Roughly 25% of patients continue to have erectile dysfunction etc for many years after discontinuation, even for more than a decade. Theres ongoing research on this, and its been termed post-finasteride syndrome.
The thing is, nobody other than you will ever give a shit about how long and thick your hair is or if you're going bald. Next time you're out, pay close attention to the adult men you see. >50% will have receding hairlines. Male hair loss is pretty much a part of aging, its too common to draw any attention. What WILL draw attention if you have 100 strands of hair curling over your bald area strategically gelled in order to hide what can't be hidden. Just wear a hairstyle that suits you, and for now, let the recession continue.
Hair loss has its greatest mental impact when you first notice it. For the vast majority, this impact reduces with time, so that most cant be bothered with transplants or lifelong drugs. Fun fact: nawaz sharif and imran khan don't belong to this group. Both have hair transplants, Imran Khan's is just not that well known though.
