The primary cause of baldness is a genetic disposition that typically leads to the receding of the hairline at the front of the head or the thinning of the hair along the crown. Though this hereditary condition is usually referred to as male pattern baldness, women may also carry the trait. Yet, females are not as susceptible to the physical manifestation of the genetic disposition because it is usually only exhibited in the presence of the male sex hormone testosterone. Male pattern baldness is considered a permanent form of hair loss, although some drugs, such as finasteride and minoxidil, have been developed that slow or stop the progression of balding in some subjects and helps stimulate new growth in a much smaller number of cases.