Telehealth Giant Hims Wants to Test Every Dude for Low Testosterone

Telehealth company Hims has launched a testosterone replacement therapy service for cisgender men, aiming to cast a wide net and test as many people as possible. The service, which offers injectable treatments and oral pills, is intended to address the underdiagnosed and misunderstood condition of testosterone deficiency. Hims' urologist and senior vice president of men's health, Peter Stahl, emphasizes that testosterone deficiency is a medical condition requiring clinical assessment beyond blood tests, which are used alongside symptoms and medical history.

The stigma around testosterone therapy persists, but a recent Hims survey indicates growing male openness to discussing treatment. Despite the controlled nature of testosterone, which prohibits dispensation like other treatments, telehealth TRT services like Hims' have the potential to expand access, provided appropriate monitoring is in place.

Hims' approach involves patients collecting blood samples using a wearable device, which are then analyzed to determine if testosterone levels fall below medical thresholds. The company sees hormone testing as an opportunity to encourage men to seek medical care, particularly for conditions like hypogonadism that have been linked to increased mortality risk.

Hims is navigating a rapidly evolving landscape in online testosterone sales, where some digital clinics have been found to prescribe the medication regardless of normal hormone levels. Stahl maintains a more cautious stance, only treating individuals who exhibit symptoms of testosterone deficiency, unlike other online clinics that may market testosterone as an anti-aging solution.