Hims is a telehealth platform that connects men with licensed healthcare providers for conditions many find awkward to discuss in person, including hair loss, erectile dysfunction, skincare, weight management, and mental health. Everything happens online: you fill out a medical questionnaire, a clinician reviews it (often within hours), and if a prescription is appropriate, medication ships directly to your door.
How the Platform Works
The process starts with choosing a treatment category and completing a detailed health questionnaire. This isn’t a chatbot experience. A licensed provider reviews your answers and medical history, then decides whether to prescribe medication, recommend an alternative, or refer you to a local doctor for an in-person visit. Most consultations are asynchronous, meaning you don’t need a live video call. You submit your information, and the provider responds with a diagnosis and treatment plan, typically the same day.
If you’re prescribed medication, Hims fills and ships it through its own pharmacy network. The company acquired a compounding facility called Medisource, which allows it to create customized dosages and formulations that standard pharmacies don’t carry. Treatments are subscription-based, so refills arrive on a regular schedule without you needing to reorder each time.
Hair Loss Treatments
Hair loss is probably what Hims is best known for. The platform offers two main active ingredients that have strong clinical evidence behind them: minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is a topical treatment (available as a 5% foam) that you apply directly to the scalp to stimulate hair regrowth. Finasteride is an oral medication that works by blocking the hormone responsible for shrinking hair follicles in male pattern baldness.
Hims also offers combination products, including topical sprays that blend both ingredients into a single application. The idea is to simplify the routine so you’re more likely to stick with it, which matters because hair loss treatments only work for as long as you use them. Stop treatment and any regrowth typically reverses within a few months.
Erectile Dysfunction Medications
Hims provides access to the same active ingredients found in well-known ED medications. Sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) is taken 30 minutes to an hour before sexual activity, with a standard starting dose of 50 mg for men under 65. Tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis) works similarly but lasts longer in the body, making it an option for daily low-dose use. ED treatments through Hims start at less than $2 per dose for eligible patients, which undercuts what most people pay at a retail pharmacy without insurance.
Through its compounding pharmacy, Hims can also create custom formulations, such as chewable tablets or combination treatments that pair different active ingredients. A provider determines what’s appropriate based on your health history, current medications, and the severity of your symptoms.
Weight Loss Programs
Hims offers a weight loss membership that includes access to GLP-1 medications, the same class of drugs that generated massive public interest over the past few years. These medications work by mimicking a gut hormone that regulates appetite and blood sugar, helping people eat less without the constant feeling of fighting hunger.
The platform carries both FDA-approved brand-name options and its own formulation. Specifically, the lineup includes Wegovy (available as a pill or injectable pen), Zepbound (in vial or pen form), and Foundayo, a pill. It also lists Ozempic and Mounjaro, though those are technically FDA-approved for type 2 diabetes and are only prescribed to patients who meet specific clinical criteria as determined by the provider. All the weight loss memberships include ongoing support from a care team, not just the medication itself.
Skincare and Acne Treatment
Rather than selling one-size-fits-all products, Hims offers a customized prescription acne cream that blends up to four active ingredients based on your skin’s needs. A provider selects the combination and strength after reviewing your questionnaire and photos. The possible ingredients include tretinoin (a powerful exfoliant that speeds up skin cell turnover and unclogs pores), clindamycin (an antibiotic that kills acne-causing bacteria), azelaic acid (which fades dark spots and calms redness), and niacinamide (which controls oil production and keeps skin hydrated).
Getting a prescription-strength formula like this would normally require a dermatologist visit, a separate trip to the pharmacy, and possibly multiple products. Hims rolls it into a single tube shipped on a subscription basis.
Mental Health Services
Hims also provides access to mental health support, primarily for anxiety and depression. The model is similar to its other categories: you complete an assessment, a provider evaluates whether medication or therapy (or both) is appropriate, and treatment begins. For many men who have never talked to a professional about their mental health, the privacy of an online platform lowers the barrier significantly.
What It Costs
Hims operates on a subscription model, and pricing varies by treatment category. ED medications start under $2 per dose. Hair loss and skincare plans have their own monthly price points that fluctuate depending on the specific products and whether you commit to a longer billing cycle (quarterly or annual plans are cheaper per month than month-to-month). Weight loss memberships tend to be the most expensive category given the high cost of GLP-1 medications, though Hims positions its pricing below what most people would pay at a retail pharmacy.
Hims does not typically bill insurance directly. However, prescription medications and doctor consultations generally qualify as eligible expenses under Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), so you may be able to use those funds to cover your costs. Some patients also submit receipts to their insurance for potential reimbursement, though coverage depends entirely on your plan.
Who Hims Is Designed For
The platform targets men who want medical treatment for common but often-ignored health concerns and prefer handling it online. If you already have a good relationship with a primary care doctor and don’t mind scheduling appointments, Hims may not offer much advantage. But for someone who has been putting off a conversation about thinning hair, inconsistent erections, or persistent acne because the idea of sitting in a waiting room feels like too much, the convenience factor is real. The consultations happen on your schedule, the medications arrive in discreet packaging, and you can message your care team with questions between visits.
The tradeoff is that asynchronous telehealth has limits. Providers are working from questionnaire responses, not physical exams. For straightforward conditions like pattern hair loss or situational ED, that’s usually sufficient. For anything complex or unclear, a good Hims provider will refer you to someone local for hands-on evaluation.