For Hims Review: My Experience Trying Their Hair Loss, Skin, and Sexual Health Treatments

For Hims is a telehealth brand aiming to revolutionize men‘s wellness by providing convenient, affordable, and discreet access to treatments for common concerns like hair loss, skin care, sexual health, and mental health. In this in-depth For Hims review, I‘ll share my personal experience trying several of their products and services, as well as provide details on how it works, the potential pros and cons to consider, and how it compares to other online men‘s health platforms.

What is For Hims?

Launched in 2017, For Hims is a direct-to-consumer wellness brand built around making scientifically-proven treatments for men‘s health issues more accessible. Their founders recognized that conditions like male pattern baldness, erectile dysfunction, and acne are extremely common (affecting 30-40% of men in some cases) yet millions don‘t seek help due to embarrassment, inconvenience, and cost barriers.

For Hims aims to solve this by providing an easy, judgment-free way to connect with licensed medical professionals online, get personalized treatment plans, and have prescription medications and over-the-counter products discreetly delivered to your door. They currently offer solutions across 5 main categories:

• Hair loss
• Sexual health
• Skin and anti-aging
• Mental health
• Supplements and prostate care

By combining telehealth consultations with a curated selection of generic and branded medications at transparent prices, For Hims hopes to empower more men to take control of their health and wellbeing. But does it live up to the promise? Read on for my full experience and thoughts.

How Does For Hims Work?

The For Hims process is designed to be simple and straightforward:

1. Online Consultation

It starts with an online questionnaire and virtual consultation with one of For Hims‘ licensed physicians and nurse practitioners in your state. This usually takes 10-15 minutes and involves answering questions about your medical history, symptoms, and treatment goals. You can also upload photos for concerns like hair loss and acne to help your provider visualize your situation.

2. Personalized Treatment Plan

Based on the consultation, the For Hims medical provider will recommend a personalized treatment plan. This could include prescription medications like finasteride for hair loss or sildenafil for ED, over-the-counter products like minoxidil or retinoid creams, or natural supplements.

You‘ll have a chance to review the treatment plan and ask any questions before moving forward. For prescription products, the For Hims physicians will write the scripts which will then be filled by their partner pharmacies.

3. Discreet Delivery

Once you approve the treatment plan, your For Hims order is filled and shipped out in discreet packaging. Subscriptions are common for ongoing treatment needs, with automatic refills sent out every 1-3 months so you don‘t run out. You can tweak, pause, or cancel your subscription at any time.

One thing I appreciate is For Hims‘ transparency about pricing. They clearly list the cost of each medication, often at significant savings compared to regular pharmacy prices. Sildenafil starts at $4/dose compared to $70+ for Viagra. Finasteride is $28.50/month compared to $70+ for Propecia. This is because For Hims focuses on proven generic versions rather than expensive branded drugs.

They also offer some unique prescription/OTC combination sets for hair loss and skin aging. These can be a convenient and good value if you want an all-in-one solution.

For Hims Review: My Experience

Over the past 6 months, I‘ve had a chance to try a range of For Hims products to address mild hair recession, acne and anti-aging, and occasional performance issues in the bedroom. Here are my key takeaways:

For Hims Hair Loss Kit

I started noticing a receding hairline and overall thinning in my early 30s. I had been considering treatments for a while, but never got around to seeing a doctor. For Hims‘ hair loss solutions include FDA-approved topical minoxidil drops and oral finasteride prescription medication (the generic version of Propecia).

After the initial online consultation, my For Hims doctor recommended their Hair Power Pack which includes a 90-day supply of both finasteride and minoxidil. The total cost was $99, which comes out to just over $1/day.

I found the process extremely simple – the doctor was knowledgeable and made me feel at ease discussing my hair loss. The Hair Power Pack arrived within a few days, and I began applying the minoxidil drops to my scalp twice daily and taking finasteride orally.

It takes several months to see the full effects, but after 3 months of consistent use I did notice improvements in slowing down hair loss and even some regrowth around the temples and crown. The only side effect was a bit of occasional scalp itching from minoxidil. So far, I‘ve been impressed with the results and convenience of For Hims for hair loss.

For Hims Skin Care

I‘ve dealt with mild acne since my teens, but started to get more conscious of skin aging and sun damage now that I‘m in my 30s. For Hims‘s skin care offerings include a prescription-strength acne cream with clindamycin and niacinamide, a custom anti-aging cream with tretinoin, and a daily moisturizer and face wash.

I ended up ordering the acne cream to start ($30 for a 30-day supply). The consultation was quick and my For Hims dermatology provider gave some helpful advice on how to incorporate it into my routine.

After about 6 weeks of nightly application, I did see a noticeable improvement in breakouts and overall clarity. The cream was non-irritating but does have a slight medicinal smell. I‘m considering trying their other skin products now to build a more complete anti-aging routine.

For Hims ED Treatment

Erectile dysfunction is a sensitive topic that affects 1 in 5 men, but one that most of us are reluctant to bring up to our regular doctor. I don‘t have chronic ED, but do experience occasional performance issues when I‘m stressed or anxious.

I decided to try For Hims ED treatment for more reliable results on-demand. They offer sildenafil (generic Viagra) and tadalafil (generic Cialis) in a few different dosages. After a consultation and providing my basic vitals, I was prescribed 20mg sildenafil to take 30-60 minutes before sexual activity.

Taking it for the first time admittedly felt a bit strange, but wow – I was surprised how well it worked when the moment came. I was able to get hard faster, stay hard longer, and had a very positive experience overall with minimal side effects.

While it‘s not an everyday need for me, I like the peace of mind of having it on hand for special occasions or when I‘m feeling off my game. The price of $4/use is also much more affordable than $60+ per pill through my local pharmacy.

For Hims Mental Health

In addition to sexual health meds, For Hims recently launched online mental health services including video therapy and psychiatric consultations. As someone who‘s dealt with mild anxiety and stress, I was curious to try their offerings.

I booked an appointment with one of For Hims‘ licensed therapists and had a 50-minute video session to discuss some challenges with work and relationships. The therapist was supportive, insightful, and gave me some useful cognitive behavioral therapy techniques to practice.

Compared to traditional in-person therapy, it was much more convenient to fit into my schedule and the $99 rate for a session was reasonable. While it may not be sufficient for those with severe mental health conditions, I found it to be a helpful resource for my mild to moderate anxiety.

Pros and Cons of For Hims

So is For Hims legit and worth it? Based on my experience, here‘s a summary of the key advantages and disadvantages to consider:

Pros of For Hims

– Convenient, discreet access to treatments for stigmatized men‘s health issues
– High quality, FDA-approved generic medications at transparent prices
– Licensed doctors who specialize in men‘s health
– Personalized treatment plans based on your goals and medical history
– HSA/FSA eligible and often cheaper than traditional doctor visits
– Ongoing support and ability to message your provider
– 90-day money back guarantee on many products

Potential Cons of For Hims

– Not a complete replacement for in-person doctor care (e.g. physical exams)
– Requires comfort with discussing personal health details online
– Some more severe conditions may not be appropriate for telehealth
– Prescription products require a consultation, not just over-the-counter
– Insurance doesn‘t typically apply to online visits or meds
– Not all products/services available in every state due to regulations

Overall, I believe For Hims is a promising option for men who may otherwise avoid seeking help for stigmatized issues like hair loss, ED, and acne. Their medical team is qualified and solutions are science-backed. However, it‘s best viewed as a complement to, not a complete substitute for, a primary care doctor.

For Hims Reviews and Ratings

Of course, my experience is just one data point. What do other For Hims customers have to say? On Trustpilot, For Hims has an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars from 2,400+ reviews. Roughly 80% of reviewers had an "Excellent" or "Great" experience:

Common praise points include:

• Effective results from products like finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss
• Caring and knowledgeable doctors who listen to your concerns
• Much more affordable than seeing a dermatologist or urologist for simple issues
• Easy to use and discreetly delivered to your doorstep

The less positive reviews tend to mention:

• Some delays with processing and shipping orders
• Having to chase down prescription renewals and doctors notes
• Products being temporarily out of stock
• Difficulty getting in touch with customer support

My impression is that the vast majority of For Hims customers are satisfied with the products and convenience. The negative experiences seem to be more isolated incidents related to logistics and customer service hiccups rather than problems with the products themselves.

That said, there‘s always going to be some variability in how people respond to treatments. While clinical studies show high success rates with products like finasteride for hair loss and sildenafil for ED, they won‘t work for 100% of people. It often takes some trial and error to find the right solution for you.

How For Hims Compares to Alternatives

For Hims was one of the pioneers in the men‘s telehealth space, but they‘re far from the only player now. Other popular options for hair loss, skin, and sexual health include:

• Roman: Another well-known men‘s health brand with many overlapping products for hair loss, ED, supplements, and more. Roman has a large content library and offers follow-up video chats with your doctor.

• Keeps: Specializes exclusively in hair loss treatments like finasteride and minoxidil, but doesn‘t cover other conditions. Keeps has slightly lower prices than For Hims and has an AI-based hair progress tracking tool.

• Lemonaid: A general telemedicine platform that offers ED meds like sildenafil and tadalafil, but not as many targeted hair and skin products. Lemonaid accepts some insurance plans for doctor consultations.

• Musely: Specializes in derm treatments for men and women, including an oral finasteride/minoxidil combination. More focused on anti-aging than sexual health.

Compared to these alternatives, For Hims stands out for their range of products across hair, skin, sex, mental health, and more. They‘re a good all-around option if you‘re looking to address multiple concerns. However, if you have a very specific need (e.g. just hair loss) then a specialized service like Keeps may be a better fit.

Is For Hims Right For You?

Ultimately, whether For Hims is a good solution for you comes down to your individual needs and comfort level with telehealth. If you‘re a man with mild to moderate hair loss, ED, skin concerns, or mental health issues who:

• Wants to consult with a doctor remotely and get treatment delivered to your home
• Is looking for proven, FDA-approved medications at transparent prices
• Values discretion and convenience
• Doesn‘t have an urgent or very complex medical issue that requires in-person care

Then For Hims is definitely worth considering. Their free online consultations are an easy, low-risk way to discuss your concerns with a licensed provider and see what they recommend. While it‘s not a magic bullet, I‘ve been pleasantly surprised with the results of their hair loss and ED treatments so far.

Hopefully this firsthand For Hims review has given you a better sense of how their products and process works, the potential pros and cons, and how it compares to other men‘s telehealth services. Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions!