Hims Starts Selling Testosterone Treatment Online to Men

Hims, the online health company, has launched testosterone replacement therapy for men. Patients take a blood test at home, and the company can then send injectable treatments or a pill. It is the company's first move into prescribing controlled substances, which are drugs the government tightly regulates.

What changed

Hims began by selling erectile dysfunction medicine. It has since added women's health, become a publicly traded company and reached 2.9 million customers since it launched in 2017. Peter Stahl, a urologist and senior vice president of men's health at Hims, says the company could not handle a complex condition like low testosterone at first. "We've finally grown up," he says.

How it works

• Hims mails a Tasso device, a round single-use patch that sticks to the upper arm and uses tiny needles to collect a small blood sample.
• A lab checks 21 health markers, including testosterone, triglycerides and thyroid hormones.
• A video chat with a clinician is required before a prescription and for ongoing monitoring.
• Options include two injectable types, an oral pill, or something else if testosterone is not low.

The video visit is required because testosterone is a controlled substance. Weight-loss shots known as GLP-1s and estrogen-based hormone therapy are often prescribed online after a short questionnaire. Testosterone does not work that way.

What to watch

A blood test alone does not decide the diagnosis. Clinicians also weigh symptoms and medical history. Common signs include sexual dysfunction and muscle loss. Stahl says that if a man has no symptoms, "it doesn't matter what your testosterone level is," and he will not be treated on the Hims platform.

That stance stands out in a crowded field. Many online clinics sell testosterone as an anti-aging or lifestyle product. In a 2022 undercover study by urology researchers, six of seven online platforms offered treatment even though the reported hormone levels were normal.

Mohit Khera, a urologist at Baylor College of Medicine, notes that testosterone therapy can cause infertility and should not go to someone trying to conceive. He sees telehealth as a promising way to widen access, as long as care is monitored properly. Older research linked the therapy to heart risks, but newer findings suggest those worries were overestimated.

Why now

Testosterone is a hot topic in politics. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for most male troops this fall. Stahl calls low testosterone underdiagnosed and misunderstood. He also hopes the test draws in men who would skip a doctor visit. He says men with low testosterone face a 35 percent higher risk of death from all causes.

What to do

Anyone tempted by an online testosterone offer should expect a video visit and ask about fertility risks. They should also ask how their care will be monitored over time. The article does not say what Hims will charge.