A 2023 Review of Hims for ED Treatment

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• Hims Sildenafil | Skip to review
• Hims Cialis | Skip to review
• Hims Tadalafil | Skip to review
• Hims Stendra | Skip to review
• Hims Hard Mints | Skip to review

We evaluated Hims by examining their erectile dysfunction (ED) services, looked closely at what Hims offers their users, compared their prices, researched how long it takes for Hims ED medications to work, and read 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 their 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 physicians to give a diagnosis and guidance. The company provides similar medical advice and products for premature ejaculation (PE) as well. Hims allow users to provide personal health information to be reviewed by a staff of doctors.

These doctors can, if appropriate, prescribe treatments like ED medications and hair loss medications, or recommend products to help with premature ejaculation, like 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 a year. You can purchase nonprescription products without a subscription.

Using Hims for ED assessment and treatment could be the right choice for you.

For people with a complex medical history, Hims may not be appropriate. Here are the pros and cons of Hims for ED.

Hims has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), but like 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 74% of the reviews rating Hims at 4 or 5 out of 5 stars. Negative reviews generally discuss the cancellation process being difficult or unclear.

Customer complaints about getting timely customer services responses are also common, but Hims appears to be willing and ready to address customer complaints with refunds and other solutions.

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 cheaper, they’ve still gone through a rigorous regulatory approval process to verify their safety and effectiveness.

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. Each is a type of PDE5 inhibitor.

Active ingredient: Sildenafil

Sildenafil helps the muscles in blood vessel walls relax, increasing blood flow to the 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.

The peak effectiveness of sildenafil is about an hour or so after taking it, so it’s best to take the tablet 30 to 60 minutes before beginning sexual activity. Its effectiveness begins to diminish after about 2 hours.

Active ingredient: Tadalafil

Tadalafil is 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 the system much longer. The downside is that any side effects from the medication are also more likely to last longer.

Tadalafil is available in a low dose daily form that takes about 4 to 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 duration than tadalafil. But avanafil differs from sildenafil in some key ways.

It’s faster acting, usually taking about 15 minutes to be effective, and tends to last a little longer.

If you’re seeking prescription medications through Hims, you’ll first sign up for an account. You can access Hims through your computer, tablet, or the 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. The doctor will then respond with treatment options via a consultation. The consultation may be via video chat, online chat, or even speaking on the phone, depending upon individual state regulations.

If your assigned doctor feels as if you can receive treatment through the Hims platform, they will prescribe medications. Prescription medications are delivered via a subscription. They’re usually filled monthly but may have other available durations. Hims says they have 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.

Subscriptions start at about $20 a 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. Also, the nature of the medication and the number of pills provided each month affect the prices.

Buying ED products through Hims isn’t covered by insurance.

Hims aims to provide a private shopping experience. They collect personal health information and information to verify your identity. How Hims uses or distributes the information to their partners, such as doctors or pharmacies, depends on your state’s health privacy laws.

Hims isn’t intended for use in minors, except for those ages 13–18 seeking treatment for skin issues, such as acne. The site features an extensive explanation of their privacy practices, protected health information, and use of information on their website.

Hims packages their 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 aren’t 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 circulation, it’s vital to share with the Hims physicians information 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 adverse interactions.

Less serious side effects of ED medications include:

• flushing of the 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. This is the medical term for 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, or an erection that doesn’t go away
• changes to hearing, such as sudden hearing loss
• changes to vision in one or both eyes

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 in some cases can take up to 2 hours to begin working. 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 minutes to 1 hour before sexual activity.

Is Hims FDA-approved?

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 their offerings also include many herbal remedies and other products. It’s important to verify which product you’re buying and check the FDA status.

Does Hims help with erectile dysfunction? Does Hims work the same as Viagra?

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 like Viagra and Cialis.

But Hims may not be a great fit for people who would rather explore more natural, nonprescription solutions first.

How often can you take Hims?

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 if that dose is working for you.

Is it safe to use with other ED medications?

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.

Do Hims ED pills make you last longer?

ED medications help people with erectile dysfunction 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 experiencing premature ejaculation 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 and receive a prescription for an ED medication before subscribing 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.