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Roman is an alternative men’s healthcare system aimed at providing treatments for ED and other health issues. Here’s an in-depth review of services, cost, user feedback, and more.
If you’re interested in men’s health services but don’t want to make a trip to the doctor in person, you may have come across Roman or Get Roman.
In this article, we’re taking a close look at the brand: their services, what’s behind the hype of their popular ED treatments, other products you can try, and whether they’re worth checking out.
Roman is a men’s health service that specializes in treatments for erectile dysfunction (ED), premature ejaculation (PE), and other men’s health conditions.
It’s a sub-brand of a company called Ro. Ro was started in 2017 with the intention of providing what’s called an “end-to-end” consumer healthcare service. Ro seeks to help with all parts of your medical journey, including scheduling appointments, filling out prescriptions, and more.
Roman focuses specifically on providing services for men’s health. They’re most known for their ED medications that have the same active ingredient as brand names like Viagra and Cialis. But Roman also provides:
- online and in-person appointment services through an online dashboard
- prescription fills and refills with licensed pharmacies
- treatments for viral infections
- hair and skin treatments for hair loss, eczema, cold sores, and more
- generic forms of common treatments for allergies, heart health, and smoking cessation
- nutritional supplements for stress relief, weight management, and more
Pros
- Appointments and treatments may be cheaper than your regular prescription service, depending on whether you have health insurance, which insurance plan you have, and what your insurance plan covers.
- There are no in-person appointments for care and prescriptions, though this can also be seen as a drawback depending on needs.
- Monthly subscriptions are available to help you remember to refill your medication.
Cons
- You may be able to find better prices on generic sildenafil and tadalafil by using programs like GoodRx.
- You may not receive your shipments on time due to medication availability or supply chain issues.
- The service is not available in all states.
Roman’s generic ED treatments are their most popular offering. They provide generic and brand-name sildenafil, the active ingredient in Viagra, as well as generic tadalafil (Cialis).
Here’s a brief overview of the ED medications Roman provides:
Viagra
This brand-name medication uses the active ingredient sildenafil to help you get an erection. This medication typically begins working after about 30 minutes and lasts for about 4 to 6 hours. It’s available in a 25-, 50-, and 100-milligram (mg) oral tablet.
Sildenafil
This is the generic form of Viagra and the active ingredient in the medications Revatio and Viagra. While Viagra is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for ED, Revatio is only FDA-approved for treating pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Roman offers sildenafil as 20-, 40-, 60-, 80-, and 100-mg oral tablets.
Tadalafil
This is the generic form of Cialis, which is also for ED. It lasts anywhere from 24 to 36 hours after you take it. It’s prescribed as a 2.5-, 5-, 10-, and 20-mg chewable tablet. The 2.5- and 5-mg doses of tadalafil are also FDA-approved for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and urinary symptoms.
Sertraline
Roman also provides generic forms of treatments that may help with premature ejaculation.
This generic form of the antidepressant Zoloft has
Premature ejaculation wipes
Roman Swipes are individually packaged premoistened wipes with a 4 percent benzocaine solution. This solution reduces sensation in the penis, helping you last longer before you ejaculate and can also be used to treat PE.
Roman claims to make prescription products easier to access through a subscription-based, telehealth model.
What this means is that when you want a prescription for ED medications, hair loss products, or another medication, you can go through Roman’s website and answer a few questions.
You’ll also need to submit a picture of your photo ID and a clear photo of your face. A licensed healthcare professional then reviews your information and, if you’re a good candidate for telemedicine, they will fill out the prescription for you.
Certain U.S. states require the additional step of a video chat with one of Roman’s healthcare professionals. These professionals are doctors with independently owned practices.
You may need to submit some additional information, too. If you’re getting a prescription for ED medication, you’ll need to provide an accurate blood pressure reading from within the last 6 months. And if you’re signing up for hair loss medication, you’ll need to provide photos of your hairline from different angles.
If you meet the criteria for Roman telemedicine and your prescription is approved, you are ready to order.
You select whether you want a quarterly or monthly subscription for your medications, or if you want a one-time purchase. You then enter your payment information. Within 2 days, the products are mailed to your home in an unmarked box and in discreet packaging.
You can cancel the subscription whenever you want.
Roman doesn’t currently accept health insurance as a form of payment.
Here’s a breakdown of how much Roman charges for each ED treatment, before any potential coverage from your health insurance plan:
Branded Viagra
$90 for a single 25-, 50-, or 100-mg oral tablet. Price can depend on your insurance and the pharmacy where the prescription is filled.
Generic Viagra
- $4 for a single 25-mg oral tablet
- $6 for a single 50-mg oral tablet
- $10 for a single 100-mg oral tablet
Branded Cialis
- $20 for a single 5-mg oral tablet
- $80 for a single 10- or 20-mg oral tablet
Generic Cialis
- $11 for a single 5-mg oral tablet
- $44 for a single 10- or 20-mg oral tablet
Daily Generic Cialis
$8 for a single 2.5- or 5-mg oral tablet
For a full list of medications and prices from Roman, see their website.
Roman Swipes
The wipes cost $22 per month for a 3-month supply of 72 wipes. They’re $27 for a 1-month purchase.
Finasteride
Finasteride is the generic form of the drug Propecia. This drug decreases the levels of the hormone DHT in your body. For some people, this helps slow or stop the natural thinning of hair. Finasteride is only recommended for men.
Roman sells finasteride in a subscription that costs $20 per month.
Minoxidil
Minoxidil is the generic form of the drug Rogaine. It’s believed to work by prolonging the growth phase of hair and enlarging the hair follicles at the same time, but this mechanism is poorly understood.
Minoxidil is typically a topical gel, foam, or ointment you apply to the crown of your head.
Roman sells minoxidil in a prescription that costs $20 per month. You can also get it in a package bundled with finasteride and pay a discounted $35 per month.
Note: All prices are current as of December 2022
If you have hair loss, ED, or PE, it may feel intimidating or even embarrassing to ask for help. Roman helps remove some of that discomfort by helping you talk with a doctor online, get medications shipped discreetly to your door, and purchase certain over-the-counter (OTC) treatments without needing a prescription.
In addition, Roman’s products are shipped in unmarked boxes, so anyone who sees the package won’t be able to tell what’s inside.
The Roman website says that customers’ information is highly secure. However, the company’s privacy policy does note that any data Roman collects from customers may be shared with third-party advertisers.
Roman is rated on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website and on Trustpilot.
Some customers have complained about being charged for automatic renewal without permission or experiencing slow shipping speeds. Roman has responded to numerous customer reviews in great detail.
Roman does not allow returns of their prescription medication due to regulatory issues.
They offer a customer service contact email for any issues with incorrect or misplaced orders.
Customer reviews
Roman displays customer reviews on their website.
Only positive reviews are displayed, including photos, on their website. Customers praise treatment plans, fast shipping, and great response times from customer service. These reviews do seem to contradict some reviews from other sites.
At time of publication, third-party review site Trustpilot only displayed 5 Roman reviews, and it gave Roman an average of 2.5 stars out of 5.
One of the Trustpilot reviews relates to pricing — saying that competitors offer the same medications and dosages for significantly less.
The other review doesn’t relate to the company’s products or pricing but instead points to one reviewer’s negative experience interviewing with the brand’s marketing department.
At time of publication, Roman’s rating on the BBB website landed at 1.75/5 stars out of a total of 12 customer reviews. Positive reviews point to feeling at ease when talking about concerns with the medical team.
Negative reviews point to several issues:
- late response times from customer service representatives
- unauthorized charges for canceled subscriptions
- not receiving subscriptions after being charged for them
- concerns about privacy relating to personal information
- lack of choices when picking a doctor for telemedicine appointments
Both sildenafil and tadalafil have been approved by the FDA for prescription use under the supervision of a doctor.
However, be sure to talk with your doctor about possible risks, interactions, or side effects of using any Roman medications, especially when using PDE5 inhibitors in high doses.
Keep in close communication with your doctor in case you notice any new symptoms.
PDE5 side effects
Some side effects are possible with sildenafil and tadalafil, including:
- rash
- flushing
- redness
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- back pain
- headache
- runny nose
- indigestion
- erection that lasts longer than 4 hours (priapism)
- blurry vision
Sertraline side effects
Some side effects of sertraline can include:
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- diarrhea
- upset stomach
- sleepiness
- insomnia
- excessive sweat (hyperhidrosis)
- shakiness
- fatigue
- agitation
Benzocaine side effects
Benzocaine is a common over-the-counter numbing agent that’s used in many other products besides ED wipes.
Some possible side effects of benzocaine include:
- flaky skin
- tenderness where you wiped
- itchiness
- burning sensation
- stinging
- redness or warmth
When you meet with your doctor, you may not know which questions to ask about your ED care. Here are a few questions to get you started.
Questions for ED care
- Does my ED have a physical cause? How can I know?
- Are there any other possible causes?
- How can I test whether I have ED?
- Will my ED only last for a while or could it be longer term?
- How can I know what treatment is best?
- Are there alternatives to these medications?
- What are nonprescription treatments for ED?
- Should I be managing other health conditions along with my ED?
- What shouldn’t I do while I’m taking these medications?
- Do I need to see a urologist or another type of specialist?
- Are there any educational materials I can look at online?
Some doctors suggest that you visit a urologist if your ED medication isn’t helping you get and keep an erection 50% of the time or more.
If you have a chronic health condition or your doctor suspects an underlying condition might be contributing to ED, you may need further tests or a consultation with a specialist to find the right treatment.
Many emotional and psychological factors can also cause ED, so your doctor may also refer you to a mental health professional.
How long do the effects from Roman’s ED treatments last?
The effects of Viagra can last up to
Erections should not last more than 4 hours, though. Erections lasting longer than 4 hours are considered a serious side effect that requires emergency treatment.
How often can you take Roman ED treatments?
Generally, medical professionals recommend taking an ED treatment like Cialis on a daily basis, or Viagra as needed before sex, but no more than once per day.
Talk with your doctor for a recommendation.
Should you take ED medication if you’re under 35?
Younger people can experience ED. In that case, a doctor may prescribe ED medication.
If you’re not experiencing symptoms of ED and you haven’t been given a prescription, you shouldn’t take ED medication.
Are Roman ED treatments safe?
Sildenafil and tadalafil are FDA-approved for prescription use under doctor supervision. However, that doesn’t mean they come without risks or side effects.
Pay attention to any new symptoms, and talk with your doctor about possible risks, interactions, or side effects of using Roman medications. This is especially important if you use PDE5 inhibitors in high doses.
How long does it take for Roman ED to work?
This brand-name medication uses the active ingredient sildenafil to help you get an erection. This medication typically begins working after about 30 minutes and lasts for about 4 to 6 hours.
If you’re feeling self-conscious about ED and having trouble affording a healthcare plan that covers treatments, Roman can help fill the gap by giving you access to safe, reliable treatments.
Roman provides physician consultations and discreet packaging so you can effectively manage this common condition.