Hims, the publicly traded telehealth company known for making men's health treatments easy to order, has launched a testosterone replacement therapy service for cisgender men. The offering includes two injectable options and an oral pill, with patients first using a wearable blood-collection device at home. The company says the test analyzes 21 biomarkers, including testosterone, and positions the service as a way to draw men into broader healthcare.
The move puts Hims in a fast-growing but crowded market. Numerous online clinics have popped up in recent years, often marketing testosterone as an anti-aging or lifestyle product. Hims' senior vice president of men's health argues that testosterone deficiency is underdiagnosed and misunderstood, and he wants to get as many men tested as possible. But he also draws a line: patients without symptoms will not receive treatment on the platform, regardless of their lab results.
Regulation shapes the business model. Testosterone is a controlled substance, so Hims cannot rely on simple questionnaires the way it does for other drugs. Instead, patients must have a video visit with a clinician before receiving a prescription, and ongoing monitoring is required. The company's expansion comes at a time when testosterone has become a cultural and political talking point, from mandatory screening for U.S. troops to “low T” insults in political campaigns, which could further fuel demand. The article notes that a 2022 undercover study found most digital clinics prescribed testosterone despite normal levels, underscoring the risk of aggressive marketing in this category. Hims is trying to differentiate itself as a more conservative, medically grounded entry into the space.