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Assessing Public Interest in Online Men's Health Services: A Cross-Sectional Google Trends Analysis of "Hims" - Beyond the Abstract

Telehealth and direct-to-consumer healthcare platforms have reshaped the way patients interact with healthcare systems, especially regarding sensitive conditions such as erectile dysfunction (ED) and early climax (EC). Platforms like Hims, launched in 2017, have quickly grown in popularity by providing convenient, discreet, and direct online access to treatment options. Hims reported nearly $900 million in revenue in 2023, which increased to $1.48 billion in 2024, highlighting a significant market demand for digital healthcare solutions outside the traditional insurance-based model.1

“Assessing Public Interest in Online Men's Health Services,” by Considine et al., provides an analysis of the evolving consumer behavior in men’s health by examining national Google search trends related to Hims’ ED and EC services. The study demonstrates a clear and sustained rise in interest, particularly following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings reflect not only the acceleration of telehealth adoption but also a growing preference for platforms that offer private, on-demand care.2

One of the most striking observations was the geographic distribution of search interest. Rural states such as Colorado, Wyoming, and Maine showed some of the highest relative search volumes, suggesting that patients in areas with limited access to in-person care may be turning to telehealth out of necessity. Meanwhile, high engagement from large, more densely populated regions underscores that convenience and discretion are valued across all demographics, not just those in underserved areas.

The rapid growth of digital platforms like Hims brings both opportunity and responsibility. As these companies gain traction, they have the potential to offer new solutions to ongoing issues like provider shortages and long wait times. However, this potential can only be fully realized if issues like internet access, digital literacy, and uneven regulation are addressed.3

While search interest alone doesn’t measure clinical outcomes, it provides insight into what patients are actively seeking. Studies of this nature augment our understanding of new and emerging patterns in health-seeking behavior, which in turn can help guide clinical strategy, policy development, and investment in patient-centered care.4

Jack Considine,1 Shane Tinsley,1 Amarnath Rambhatla,1 Ali Dabaja,1 Logan Hubbard2

  1. Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Health System, Detroit, MI, USA
  2. Department of Urology. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
References:

  1. Fierce Healthcare. Hims & Hers bullish on weight loss business despite GLP-1 market shift. Published March 4, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2025. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/hims-hers-bullish-weight-loss-business-despite-glp-1-market-shift
  2. Considine J, Tinsley S, Rambhatla A, Dabaja A, Hubbard L. Assessing Public Interest in Online Men's Health Services: A Cross-Sectional Google Trends Analysis of "Hims". J Sex Med. 2025; In Press. PubMed40188963
  3. Kichloo A, Albosta M, Dettloff K, et al. Telemedicine, the current COVID-19 pandemic and the future: a narrative review and perspectives moving forward in the USA. Fam Med Community Health. 2020;8(3). doi:10.1136/FMCH-2020-000530
  4. Wynne M, Pakhchanian H, Raiker R, Batter T, Whalen M. Patient Demand for Urologists in the United States: A Google Trends Analysis. Urol Pract. 2023;10(2):155-160. doi:10.1097/UPJ.0000000000000385
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