Telehealth company Hims launches testosterone replacement therapy for men
US telehealth platform Hims, which started out selling erectile dysfunction drugs, has launched a testosterone replacement service for men. Patients first take an at-home blood test, and prescriptions follow a video consultation with a clinician.
Hims, a US telehealth company that delivers care remotely, has launched a testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) service for cisgender men. It will offer two types of injections and an oral pill, which can be sent to patients after they complete an at-home blood test. The company aims to screen as many men as possible, arguing that testosterone deficiency is underdiagnosed.
From erectile dysfunction pills to complex care
Hims began in 2017 selling erectile dysfunction medication, later expanded into women's health, and is now publicly traded with 2.9 million customers. Peter Stahl, a urologist and the company's senior vice president of men's health, says the firm initially lacked the capability to handle a condition as complex as testosterone deficiency. Hims will compete with many online clinics, several of which market the drug as a lifestyle enhancer or anti-aging product.
How the test works
Testosterone is a controlled substance in the US, so it cannot be prescribed after a simple questionnaire, as is common with GLP-1 drugs or estrogen-based hormone therapy. A video visit with a clinician is required before a prescription and for ongoing monitoring. Patients receive a Tasso device that sticks to the upper arm and collects a small blood sample with microneedles. A lab analyzes 21 biomarkers, including triglycerides, thyroid hormones and testosterone.
Diagnosis is not based on lab results alone; clinicians also weigh symptoms and medical history. Symptoms of hypogonadism include sexual dysfunction and muscle loss. Stahl says men with low testosterone have a 35 percent higher risk of overall mortality.
Caution
Mohit Khera, a urologist and director of the Laboratory for Andrology Research at Baylor College of Medicine, sees telehealth services as a promising way to widen access, as long as monitoring is appropriate. He notes that the therapy can cause infertility. In a 2022 study in which researchers went undercover to test digital clinics, six of seven platforms offered the therapy despite reported normal hormone levels. Stahl stresses that patients without symptoms will not be treated on the Hims platform, regardless of their testosterone level.
