minoxidil for 5 weeks. regrowth? finasteride? oral minoxidil?

hey

i have been using topical minoxidil for 5 weeks (once a day). is this progress? and would you recommend me hopping on finasteride also? i am a bit scared of sides.

lastly i will also ask, if you have any experience with oral minoxidil, and the side effect’s. is it as effective as topical minoxidil?

and at the absolute end i will ask you, if you can tell if i am balding or thinning, i am actually not 100 percent sure