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Hims provides generic and brand-name ED medications, along with access to licensed doctors for diagnosis and guidance. We evaluated Hims by examining its services, prices, and customer reviews.
We evaluated Hims by examining its erectile dysfunction (ED) services, looking closely at what Hims offers its users, comparing its prices, researching how long it takes for Hims ED medications to work, and reading through customer reviews. Here’s what we found.
Hims Inc. is a telemedicine company that launched in 2017, focusing on personal wellness and removing the stigmas from seeking care for sexual health issues. Hims was joined by its sister company, Hers, a year later to become Hims & Hers Health, Inc.
If you’re seeking treatment for ED, Hims provides both generic and brand-name medications, as well as licensed doctors to give a diagnosis and guidance. The company also provides medical advice and products for premature ejaculation (PE). Hims allows users to provide personal health information to be reviewed by a staff of doctors.
If appropriate, these doctors can prescribe treatments such as ED medications and hair loss medications or recommend products to help with PE, such as the Clockstopper Climax Delay Wipes. A Hims user can then buy these medications and products on the Hims website.
Prescription drugs must be purchased with a Hims subscription that delivers a month’s worth of medications 12 times per year. You can purchase nonprescription products without a subscription.
Using Hims for ED assessment and treatment could be the right choice for you. But if you have a complex medical history, Hims may not be appropriate. Here are the pros and cons of Hims for ED.
Though many medications and supplements on the market promise to treat ED, Hims focuses on five medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They’re a mix of generic and brand-name products.
Generic versions of well-known medications, such as Viagra and Cialis, are available at a much lower cost than their brand-name counterparts. Although generic medications are cheaper, they have still gone through a rigorous regulatory approval process to verify their safety and effectiveness.
Subscriptions start at about $20 per month for some medications. However, prices can vary based on product supply chain and manufacturer availability.
The average costs for ED medications through Hims vary considerably, depending on whether you’re buying generic or brand-name products. The nature of the medication and the number of pills provided each month also affect the prices.
Buying ED products through Hims is not covered by insurance.
Though the goal of ED medications is to help you get and maintain erections, there are some differences in the three main ingredients in the products offered by Hims. But all three are PDE5 inhibitors.
Active ingredient: Sildenafil
Sildenafil helps the muscles in blood vessel walls relax, increasing blood flow to your penis. This makes it easier to get and keep an erection.
The drug won’t cause an erection on its own. Sexual stimulation is still required.
Sildenafil’s effectiveness peaks about an hour after you take it, so it’s best to take the tablet 30–60 minutes before beginning sexual activity. Its effectiveness begins to diminish after about 2 hours.
Active ingredient: Tadalafil
Tadalafil is part of the same class of drugs (PDE5 inhibitors) as sildenafil, so it works the same way to help you get an erection.
The main difference is that tadalafil stays in your system much longer. The downside is that any side effects from the medication are more likely to last longer.
Tadalafil is available in a low dose daily form that takes 4–5 days to become effective. It should stay effective every day as long as you continue to take your daily tablet.
Active ingredient: Avanafil
Stendra is a newer PDE5 inhibitor featuring the active ingredient avanafil. It’s not yet available in generic form.
It’s more like sildenafil in that it has a shorter effectiveness than tadalafil. But avanafil differs from sildenafil in some key ways.
It’s faster acting, usually taking about 15 minutes to become effective, and the effects tend to last a little longer.
Hims has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). But, as with many companies, reviews previously left on the BBB are mixed. Most negative reviews and complaints focus on shipping and billing issues rather than the quality or effectiveness of the products.
On Trustpilot, customer ratings are also mixed but lean more positive, with 77% of the reviews rating Hims at 3, 4, or 5 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews generally say that the cancellation process was difficult or unclear.
Customer complaints about getting timely customer service responses are also common, but Hims appears to be willing and ready to address customer complaints with refunds and other solutions.
If you’re seeking prescription medications through Hims, you’ll first sign up for an account. You can access Hims through your computer or tablet or through its mobile app, a service the company launched in November 2021.
You’ll go through a series of automated questions such as “How often do you have trouble getting or keeping an erection during sex?” and “What results are you looking for?” Once you answer these questions, you’ll be directed to an online consultation.
During the consultation, the healthcare professional assigned to you will review your goals and medical history. They will then respond with treatment options. The consultation may take place via video chat, via online chat, or even on the phone, depending on individual state regulations.
If your assigned doctor feels that you can receive treatment through the Hims platform, they will prescribe medications. Prescription medications are delivered via a subscription. Prescriptions are usually filled monthly but may have other available durations. Hims says it has more than 550,000 subscribers.
These medications can be delivered via mail, or the prescription can be sent to your local pharmacy. If you have follow-up questions, you can ask the pharmacy or the doctor who prescribed the medication for you.
Hims aims to provide a private shopping experience. The company collects personal health information and information to verify your identity. How Hims uses or distributes the information to its partners, such as doctors or pharmacies, depends on your state’s health privacy laws.
Hims isn’t intended for use by minors, except for those ages 13–18 seeking treatment for skin issues such as acne. The site features an extensive explanation of its privacy practices, protected health information, and use of information on its website.
Hims packages its ED products in discreet envelopes. The shipping label will have the Hims company name and sometimes an “H” logo on its packaging. However, if you order products that are not for ED treatment, the products will arrive in a brown, corrugated box with the word “hims” printed on the side.
When used as prescribed, Hims ED medications are generally safe and well tolerated.
But because ED medications affect your circulation, it’s vital to tell Hims’ doctors about your cardiovascular health and any other medications you take.
Avoid PDE5 inhibitors if you take alpha-blockers or nitrate medications. When these medications mix, they could cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. Be sure to discuss any medications you’re taking with your doctor to prevent negative interactions.
Less serious side effects of ED medications include:
flushing of your face
headaches
nasal congestion
Though moderate alcohol consumption isn’t likely to interfere with ED medications, excessive drinking can limit the effectiveness of the medication and lead to complications such as orthostatic hypotension — a sudden drop in blood pressure that can cause fainting or falls.
When to get medical attention
Seek medical attention if you experience any of these rare but serious side effects of ED medications:
priapism (an erection that doesn’t go away)
changes to hearing, such as sudden hearing loss
changes to vision in one or both eyes
Viagra, Cialis, and Stendra are FDA-approved. The generic versions of those drugs may differ slightly from the original patented drugs, although the active ingredients are the same.
However, not all Hims products are FDA-approved since the company’s offerings also include many herbal remedies and other products. It’s important to verify which product you’re buying and check the FDA status.
Hims can be a great service if you know what kind of ED medication is right for you. By using Hims, you can bypass a regular in-person doctor’s visit or another visit to a pharmacy for ED medications such as Viagra and Cialis.
But Hims may not be a great fit if you would rather explore more natural, nonprescription solutions first.
The effectiveness of ED medication can depend on several key factors, including your lifestyle, overall health, and sexual habits.
Cialis and tadalafil can be taken as needed and are longer-acting medications, allowing for more spontaneous sexual activity. These medications can be effective in as little as 30 minutes but can take up to 2 hours to start working in some cases. Cialis and tadalafil can also be taken daily at a lower dose so you can always be ready for sex.
On the other hand, Viagra, sildenafil, and Stendra are generally effective for about 4–6 hours. They should be taken at least 30–60 minutes before sexual activity.
According to Hims, doctors will typically prescribe one of three possible dose strengths of Viagra: 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg. For most people, the recommended dose is 50 mg, and it’s meant to be taken as needed or as prescribed, about 1 hour before sexual activity.
Based on the drug’s effectiveness and your ability to tolerate it, your prescriber may adjust the dosage. The maximum dose per day is 100 mg of sildenafil, so don’t take any more than that.
Doctors don’t recommend combining any ED medications for a stronger effect without discussing it with a doctor first. In fact, some of these drugs can have severe side effects if combined.
That’s why it’s important to discuss any medications you’re currently taking with your doctor and not to begin taking any new or additional medications without talking with them first.
ED medications help people with ED have an erection but don’t delay orgasm. However, if you’re unable to maintain an erection during the length of a sexual encounter, then yes, ED medications may be able to help you last until orgasm.
If you’re primarily looking to delay your orgasm, consider Clockstopper Climax Delay Wipes, which are available through Hims. These wipes use benzocaine as a numbing agent to temporarily reduce the sensitivity of your penis and possibly delay orgasm. This is a treatment option for people who are experiencing PE as well.
Hims is a telemedicine company that specializes in medications for sexual dysfunction and other wellness products.
It offers privacy and one-stop shopping that allows you to consult with a licensed doctor, receive a prescription for an ED medication, and subscribe to get it delivered monthly to your home.
Hims can provide convenience, ease of access, and privacy for getting ED medications, but other options may be more affordable.
