Understanding erectile dysfunction
If you are comparing Hims vs Roman erectile dysfunction treatment, you are already taking a smart first step. Learning about ED and your options can feel awkward at first, but clear information makes the whole process less stressful.
Erectile dysfunction simply means you regularly have trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. It can be occasional or frequent and it can show up at any age, although it is more common as you get older. ED is often caused by a mix of physical factors like blood flow, hormones, or medications and mental factors like stress, anxiety, or relationship issues.
What matters most is that ED is common and treatable. You do not have to put your life on hold or wait months for a specialist appointment just to ask questions. That is where online services like Hims and Roman come in.
What Hims and Roman actually are
Hims and Roman, now part of Ro, are telehealth companies that launched in 2017. Both focus heavily on men’s health and offer prescription treatments for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, and premature ejaculation, mainly serving men in the United States (Medical News Today).
Instead of booking an in person visit, you complete a virtual consultation. A licensed healthcare professional reviews your answers, decides if ED treatment is safe for you, and if appropriate, writes a prescription that is then shipped to your door in discreet packaging within a few business days (Medical News Today).
You never walk into a pharmacy, you do not sit in a waiting room, and you can handle everything from your couch or even your phone in the car on your lunch break. For many men, that convenience is what finally makes it possible to seek help.
How online ED treatment works
Although Hims and Roman look slightly different on the surface, the basic steps are similar.
You typically:
- Create an account and verify your identity.
- Fill out an online health questionnaire that includes your symptoms, medical history, and medications.
- Sometimes provide additional information such as a blood pressure reading or a short video consultation, especially with Roman (Healthline).
- A licensed healthcare professional reviews your information and decides if treatment is appropriate.
- If you are approved, your prescription is shipped to you in discreet packaging, usually within 2 to 5 business days for both companies (Medical News Today).
Both Hims and Roman focus on FDA approved medications for ED, but they also offer some compounded options that are not FDA approved in those particular combinations or forms. You pay out of pocket because neither service accepts insurance for ED drugs (Medical News Today, Healthline).
The benefit for you is a private, streamlined process. You do not need to become an expert in every ED drug before you start. A clinician can recommend something based on your health and preferences and you can adjust over time.
ED medications you can get
The medications you see from Hims vs Roman erectile dysfunction treatment will look familiar if you have researched ED before.
Both offer:
- Sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra
- Tadalafil, the active ingredient in Cialis
These generic versions are chemically identical to the brand name drugs, but usually cheaper. Roman, in particular, highlights that its generic sildenafil and tadalafil match the brand name medications in active ingredient and dose options, ranging from 25 to 100 mg for sildenafil and 2.5 to 20 mg for tadalafil, which can fit daily or as needed use (Healthline).
You will also see brand name options:
- Viagra through both services
- Cialis through both services, although pricing and dose options differ
On top of that, each company has its own spin on how the medication is delivered. Roman, under the Ro brand, offers several formats such as traditional tablets, a dissolvable sublingual tablet called Sparks that combines sildenafil and tadalafil, and Daily Rise Gummies with tadalafil for daily use (Ro).
Hims sells standard pills and a chewable product called Hard Mints that may contain tadalafil, vardenafil, or a combination of tadalafil and sildenafil. Some of these combination mints are compounded and not FDA approved in that specific formulation (Healthline).
The variety is helpful if you care about how fast a medication takes effect, whether you prefer daily use or as needed, or if you want something that feels more discreet than a traditional pill.
Hims vs Roman: Key similarities
Before you focus on the differences, it helps to see where Hims and Roman line up.
In most cases you get:
- A 100 percent online process, from intake to prescription
- Access to FDA approved ED medications like Viagra and Cialis, along with generics
- Discreet delivery, usually within a few days
- No insurance coverage, so you pay the full cash price
Both companies are designed for men who want privacy, convenience, and a straightforward way to try ED treatment without rearranging their schedule. You can start the process after work, on a weekend, or whenever you have a few minutes and an internet connection.
You also have access to medical professionals, which means you are not guessing about doses or mixing medications on your own. Each platform requires a consultation with a licensed clinician before you get a prescription (Medical News Today).
How Hims stands out for ED
When you look closer at Hims vs Roman erectile dysfunction treatment, Hims often appeals to you if you are focused on cost and broad product options.
Pricing and product range
Hims positions itself as budget friendly. Generic sildenafil, the most popular treatment on the platform, starts around 4 dollars per use and is about 95 percent cheaper than brand name Viagra, which starts at about 139 dollars per dose through Hims (Medical News Today). Generic tadalafil from Hims can be as low as 1 dollar per dose in some plans, while brand name Cialis is significantly more expensive, with some packages listed at several hundred dollars per month (Healthline, Medical News Today).
Hims also gives you many tadalafil dose options such as 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, and 20 mg, which allows you and your provider to fine tune how strong and how frequent your doses are for either daily or as needed use (Healthline).
Unique formats and subscriptions
The brand offers Hard Mints, chewable ED treatments that can contain vardenafil, tadalafil, or combinations of tadalafil and sildenafil. These start at about 2 dollars per chew, but some of the combined formulations are compounded and not FDA approved in that exact mixture (Healthline).
Hims typically runs on a subscription model. All prescription medications are delivered as a monthly supply and billed 12 times per year, often with minimum commitments for certain products (Healthline, Ro).
If you like predictability, automatic refills, and lower daily costs, this kind of setup might fit your life. Customer reviews also show that Hims holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and an average rating close to 3.8 out of 5 stars, with many users praising quick customer service responses (Medical News Today).
How fast the meds work
If you choose Cialis or tadalafil from Hims, you usually see effects between 30 minutes and 2 hours after taking a dose, and the medication can last up to 36 hours. Viagra or sildenafil tends to work within 30 to 60 minutes and lasts around 4 to 6 hours (Healthline).
Knowing these timing windows can help you plan your sex life more comfortably, especially if you want either a longer window for spontaneity or a shorter, more targeted effect.
How Roman and Ro stand out for ED
Roman, under the Ro umbrella, has a slightly different focus. You may prefer Roman if you care more about flexible formats, transparent pricing, and ongoing support.
Range of options and formats
Roman offers both brand name and generic sildenafil and tadalafil, with multiple dose options similar to Hims. Generic sildenafil and tadalafil from Roman are chemically identical to their brand name versions and are offered in dose ranges that fit daily or as needed treatment plans (Healthline).
Ro emphasizes unique formulations. For example, Sparks is a dissolvable sublingual tablet that contains 55 mg sildenafil and 22 mg tadalafil and is designed to act in around 15 minutes by absorbing directly into your bloodstream, which can feel faster than a pill you swallow and digest (Ro).
Ro also offers Daily Rise Gummies, a gummy form of tadalafil taken once a day at 7 mg. These are intended to provide a steady effect so you can be more spontaneous. They do contain animal gelatin and are compounded, so they are not FDA approved in that gummy format, even though the active ingredient is the same drug used in approved tablets (Healthline, Ro).
Pricing and follow up
Roman’s ED treatment prices typically range from 4 to 90 dollars per dose depending on the medication, similar in some ways to Hims, and it does not accept insurance or submit out of network claims (ChoosingTherapy). However, Roman stands out because it usually includes unlimited free follow up consultations, often handled through text messages, which can be helpful if you want to ask questions or tweak your treatment without additional fees (ChoosingTherapy).
Ro promotes clear pricing and allows monthly, quarterly, or semiannual deliveries without strict minimum subscription requirements. If you prefer to adjust your shipments or avoid long commitments, this kind of flexibility can give you more control (Ro).
Some users praise Roman for quick delivery and efficient telehealth consultations, although there are also complaints about pricing and occasional delayed customer service responses (ChoosingTherapy). Overall, Roman tends to appeal to men who value ongoing provider support and a wider set of dosage and format choices.
If you feel nervous about getting the dose right on your first try, having easy, no cost follow ups can make the process less intimidating.
How to decide which service fits you
When you look at Hims vs Roman erectile dysfunction treatment side by side, both can be life changing for slightly different reasons. Your best choice comes down to what you value most.
Ask yourself:
- Do you want the lowest possible daily cost, even if it means a subscription and traditional pill forms? Hims may be a better match, especially for generic sildenafil or tadalafil.
- Do you care most about flexible formats, like dissolvable tablets or gummies, and easy text based follow ups with your provider? Roman and Ro might fit you better.
- Are you okay with a minimum subscription and fixed monthly deliveries, or do you prefer the option of monthly, quarterly, or semiannual shipments without strict commitments?
- How important is speed for you? Sublingual tablets like Sparks may feel faster than a standard pill, while traditional Viagra and Cialis still work well if you plan ahead.
- Are you comfortable paying fully out of pocket and managing your own receipts and records, since neither company accepts insurance for ED medications?
Whatever you choose, remember that you are allowed to change your mind. If a medication or format is not working for you, you can talk to the clinician through the platform and ask about adjusting your dose or switching drugs. Both companies are set up with that trial and adjustment process in mind.
Why taking action could change your life
Living with untreated ED affects more than your sex life. It can drain your confidence, strain your relationships, and make you feel older than you really are. When you finally decide to explore treatment, that choice can ripple into every part of your day.
The biggest benefit of services like Hims and Roman is not just medication. It is access. You can start at your own pace, in private, without having to explain your situation at a front desk or sit in a crowded office. You answer a few questions, share your concerns, and a licensed professional helps you map out a plan that fits you.
If you have been waiting for the perfect moment to deal with ED, consider this your permission to stop waiting. Open a tab, compare Hims and Roman side by side, and start an online consultation with whichever feels closer to what you need right now. You deserve a sex life and a sense of confidence that match the rest of the man you are.
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