Hello. Thank you for writing to us You seem to have androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride is US FDA approved for treatment of androgenetic alopecia in males. Goal of treatment is to slow down or arrest further progression of hair loss and hair thinning. Therefore the earlier the therapy is begun better are the chances that existing hair will be retained. Treatment is life long. This therapy is absolutely safe for long term use. Only 1-2 % of patients may complain about sexual side effects like reduced libido, however, this is a transient side effect and is not a problem on continued use. If treatment is discontinued retained hair will be lost to pre-treatment levels over the next three months of stopping finasteride. Saw palmetto extract is an alternative to finasteride. It has the same mechanism of action as finasteride, however, it supposed to be devoid of the sexual side effects of finasteride. Saw palmetto extract is not yet approved for treatment of androgenetic alopecia. You may talk to your doctor for more details regarding saw palmeto extract. Regards