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Hims and Roman are telehealth companies that sell prescription and nonprescription products to treat erectile dysfunction (ED), hair loss, and premature ejaculation (PE).
ED and hair loss are common health issues, with ED
Both ED and hair loss can cause emotional distress, but there is a range of prescription treatments available for both conditions.
Hims and Roman offer these treatments to order online.
This article discusses both brands, the products they offer, and how to order, and answers some frequently asked questions.
Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and was correct at the time of publication.
Medical News Today follows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here.
Hims and Roman are both telehealth companies that provide prescription and nonprescription treatments for various conditions. They typically market their products to males.
The table below provides an overview of both brands. Prices are correct as of April 2023.
Hims began operating in 2017 and is headquartered in San Francisco. The company sells prescription and nonprescription treatments geared primarily toward males, including treatments for ED, hair loss, and PE. Hims has a sister company, Hers, which sells female health products.
Hims also sells skin care products, including those for aging support, wrinkles, and acne, and various medication treatments for mental health conditions. Hims also provides psychiatry assessments and individual and group therapy sessions.
Hims is a subscription company, and people receive their treatment every month or once every 3 months.
Hims pros and cons
Before making an order from Hims, a person might consider the advantages and disadvantages of the service.
Learn more about Hims.
New York-based company Roman also launched in 2017. The company sells prescription and nonprescription treatments for ED, hair loss, and PE.
In addition, Roman offers treatments for skin conditions such as eczema and excessive sweating. It also sells various daily health supplements, including multivitamins and products for testosterone support, stress relief, and prostate health.
Roman is also a subscription company. People will receive their treatment on demand, monthly, or every 3 months.
It is important to note that this company offers drugs for off-label use.
Roman pros and cons
Before making an order from Roman, a person might consider the following advantages and disadvantages.
Online customer reviews are mixed for Hims and Roman. Learn more about the reputation of both brands below.
Hims
Hims has an accredited page with the BBB. At the time of publishing, the BBB gave the company an A+ grade. Customer reviews average 3.98 out of 5 stars.
Reviews praising Hims mention quick responses when problems occurred with orders. However, neutral and negative reviews mention difficulty canceling subscriptions, canceled appointments, and slow responses from doctors.
Reviewers on Trustpilot gave Hims an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. Here, 62% of the 2,176 reviews are 5 stars.
Customers mention professional and respectful service from doctors and effective medication. However, critical reviews state customers were being charged after canceling orders, and shipping times were slower than advertised.
Positive reviews frequently mention the service’s convenience and knowledgeable doctors. Negative reviews report poor communication with customer service staff and difficulty canceling subscriptions.
Roman
Roman has accreditation with the BBB. At the time of publishing, the organization gave the company a B grade.
However, customer reviews on the BBB website gave Roman an average rating of 1.38 stars out of 5.
At the time of publishing, there are 26 reviews on BBB. Critical reviews mention late deliveries and undelivered medication. However, positive reviews state that the company’s vitamins and ED medications are effective, and deliveries are fast.
Trustpilot reviews average at 4 stars out of 5, across 332 reviews. At the time of publishing, 66% of the reviews on Trustpilot rated Roman 5 out of 5 stars.
Reviews mention slow delivery times that do not match company claims, significant price increases, and difficulties in contacting customer support teams.
Hims and Roman offer similar prescription medication for ED.
Learn more about the different ED treatments available.
Hims and Roman sell prescription and nonprescription treatments for hair loss.
Both Hims and Roman also sell treatments for PE, including wipes and sprays.
A person can order nonprescription products directly from the Hims and Roman websites, but getting prescription medication requires a few extra steps.
Getting Hims prescription treatments
To order a prescription treatment, people must create an account with Hims and discuss their symptoms with a licensed healthcare professional. This consultation takes place online.
If the healthcare professional finds that medication is suitable, they can write a prescription. Hims then ships the medication to the person in discreet packaging. The shipping is free, and the package arrives in 2–5 business days.
Hims offers free consultations and ongoing care. However, insurance companies do not cover the costs of these services.
Getting Roman prescription treatments
To order prescription treatment, a person completes an online questionnaire about their medical history and symptoms and uploads a photo of their ID.
A healthcare professional reviews this questionnaire to determine the best approach and writes a prescription, if necessary.
Roman offers follow-up appointments at no extra cost. Insurance companies do not cover the costs of these sessions or treatments.
The company offers free shipping in discreet packaging. Roman writes that people will receive their packages 2–4 days after ordering, although all orders qualify for 2-day shipping at no extra cost.
Hims and Roman both offer similar services and products. Below, we provide a more in-depth comparison of the two companies.
Price
Roman has a pricing page on its website for all products, whereas Hims lists some prices but not others.
The table below shows how Hims and Roman compare on prices for treatments for ED, hair loss, and PE.
Prices are correct as of April 2023.
Products and conditions
In addition to ED, hair loss, and PE treatments, Hims also offers the following:
- Skin care: This includes pro-aging support, acne creams, and basic skin care products.
- Allergies: Hims treats seasonal allergies, hay fever, itchy eyes, and sinus congestion.
- Infections: Treatments for ringworm, jock itch, athlete’s foot, yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and more are available from Hims.
- Anxiety and depression: Various antidepressant medications are available following a consultation.
- Therapy and support groups: Hims offers online counseling with licensed therapists for $99 per session and online, anonymous support groups.
Roman offers these additional products:
Consultations
Both companies offer initial consultations and ongoing appointments at no extra cost.
Subscription, delivery, and insurance
Both companies offer monthly or quarterly subscriptions. Roman also allows people to buy certain products on demand.
Hims and Roman offer free delivery in discreet packaging.
Neither service accepts insurance.
Hims and Roman provide safety information for all products. Below is an overview of some of the potential side effects a person may experience when taking medication from Hims or Roman.
Side effects of ED medication
Some common side effects of ED medication
Additionally, the
Side effects of hair loss medication
Both Roman and Hims supply finasteride for hair loss. Some common side effects of finasteride
- ED
- decrease in ejaculate volume
- increase in the risk of high-grade prostate cancer
If a person takes any other medication, they should inform the healthcare professional during their consultation. Certain drugs can interact with other medications, which can lead to potentially life threatening conditions.
For example, people who take nitrates and PDE5 inhibitors for ED have
A person can consider the following telehealth companies as alternatives to Hims and Roman:
- Keeps: Keeps offers hair loss treatments including oral finasteride, minoxidil solution and foam, ketoconazole shampoo, and a range of thickening shampoos, conditioners, and other hair products. Prices start at $10 per month, depending on the treatment a person chooses. Learn more about Keeps.
- Lemonaid: Lemonaid provides a similar range of products to Hims and Roman, including treatments for ED, PE, and hair loss. Prices start at $2 for Lemonaid ED medication, $1 for PE treatment, and $60 for a 3-month supply of hair loss treatments. Learn more about Lemonaid.
The following table compares Hims, Roman, Keeps, and Lemonaid.
Below are some common questions about telehealth companies and ED and hair loss treatment.
Are there any other treatments for ED?
The
People may also consider other treatments, such as vacuum erectile devices, to help them achieve and maintain an erection. People should discuss all treatment options with their doctor.
Learn about other natural ways to treat ED.
Are there any other ways to prevent hair loss?
There are many treatments available for hair loss, including:
- Hair transplant: This procedure involves a surgeon moving healthy hair from another part of the scalp to an area with thinning hair.
- Platelet-rich plasma: This treatment involves taking blood from a person, separating the plasma from the blood, and injecting the plasma into the scalp.
- Laser devices: Some companies sell laser devices for home use that may help encourage hair growth. People should only buy products that the FDA has approved.
Learn more about how to treat hair loss.
Are online pharmacies safe?
The
Pharmacies should also have a license to operate in the state where they do business and have a state-licensed pharmacist to answer customer queries.
The FDA lists
Is Roman the same as Hims?
Roman and Hims are both telehealth companies that offer online consultations with healthcare professionals who can prescribe medications for several health conditions.
However, different companies own and operate Roman and Hims. People should consider which brand offers the medication at the price they find most acceptable before choosing which company to use.
Does Hims make you last longer?
Hims offers PE products, such as climax delay sprays and wipes. These products can help a person have sex for longer before ejaculating.
Which is better, BlueChew or Roman?
Blue Chew and Roman are both telehealth companies that offer prescription medication for ED.
Roman sells treatments for hair loss, mental health, skin care, and a range of sexual and primary care concerns. By comparison, Blue Chew only sells three ED medications: sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil. All these products are sold in a chewable form, which is not an FDA-approved form of these drugs.
What does Hims prescribe to last longer?
Hims sells two prescription medications to address PE. These medications are sertraline and paroxetine, which are a type of antidepressant called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Research has shown
Hims and Roman are telehealth companies that sell health products for males. Some options include prescription ED medication, hair loss and PE treatments, and nonprescription general health products.
Both companies offer consultations and follow-up appointments with healthcare professionals to discuss prescriptions and any side effects. Reporting any side effects is important.
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