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) 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: scheduling appointments, filling out prescriptions — and everything in between.

Roman focuses specifically on providing accessible health coverage for men's health. They're most known for their ED treatments that have become popular alternatives to brand names like Viagra. 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

Roman ED treatments

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 been shown to be effective in treating premature ejaculation in daily 50-mg doses, which may increase based on response. This medication requires a prescription.

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.

Roman medications are usually delivered as part of a monthly subscription plan. You decide how often and how much of each treatment you want each month and pay the monthly subscription fee for your delivery.

Roman also helps get you in touch with licensed physicians so you can have an online or in-person appointment to get a legitimate prescription for these ED treatments.

Just be sure to talk with your doctor before you use any of these medications. There can be side effects, especially if using multiple treatments together. It's important to know how your body may react to the ingredients.

Roman claims to make prescription products easier to access through their subscription-based, telehealth model.

What this means is that when you want a prescription for ED medications, hair loss products, or other medication, you 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 are a good candidate for telemedicine, they will fill out the prescription for you.

Certain U.S. states require the additional step of doing 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 some photos of your hairline from different angles.

Here's how the active ingredients work in each of the generic ED medications that Roman sells.

Sildenafil and tadalafil

Both of these medications are PDE5 inhibitors. They help block the phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) enzyme and help your body produce more nitric oxide, which relaxes muscles.

Normally, you get an erection when your penis nerves are stimulated. This causes muscles to relax around two chambers in your penis called the corpus cavernosum. Blood flows in and causes an erection.

When you have ED, penis nerves don't respond as they typically should to the brain signals that tell your muscles to relax and blood to flow.

Sildenafil and tadalafil relax the blood vessels in your penis and make it easier for blood to flow into your corpus cavernosa and other areas in your penis that support the process of an erection.

Benzocaine

When you feel a sensation in any nerve, it means that sodium is activating your nerve endings and communicating signals called "action potential" to your central nervous system (CNS).

Benzocaine used in these wipes stops the production of sodium and reduces the ability of your nerve endings to communicate with the CNS. This means that you feel less (or nothing at all) until the numbing effect wears off.

Here's a breakdown of how much Roman charges for each ED treatment, before any potential coverage from your health insurance plan:

Generic Viagra

$34 for a single 25-, 50-, or 100-mg oral tablet

Branded Viagra

$70 for a single 25-, 50-, or 100-mg oral tablet

Sildenafil

  • $2 for a single 20-mg oral tablet
  • $4 for a single 40-mg oral tablet
  • $6 for a single 60-mg oral tablet
  • $8 for a single 80-mg oral tablet
  • $10 for a single 100-mg oral tablet

Tadalafil

  • $11 for a single 2.5- or 5-mg oral tablet
  • $44 for a single 10- or 20-mg oral tablet

For a full list of medications and prices from Roman, see their website.

In addition to prescription oral tablets for ED, Roman also offers treatments to treat premature ejaculation and products to treat hair loss.

Roman Swipes ED Wipes

These wipes are meant to control sensation during penetrative intercourse. The idea is that this can help delay ejaculation and make erections last longer.

The wipes cost $22 per month for a 3-month supply of 72 wipes. They're $27 for a 1-month purchase.

PE medication

Roman offers the oral tablet sertraline (Zoloft) at $2 per dose. Sertraline is an SSRI medication typically used to treat depression. One of the side effects of sertraline is delayed orgasm, so doctors sometimes prescribe it for this use.

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.

You don't have to feel embarrassed if you have ED, premature ejaculation, or hair loss. But if you do feel uncomfortable, Roman ships all of their products in unmarked boxes so you can't tell what's inside.

What's more, the actual product packaging isn't marked with the health condition it addresses.

Roman says on their website that any customer's information is highly secure, so you can buy without worry. However, their 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 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.

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.

Third-party review site Trustpilot only displays two Roman reviews at the moment, and it gives Roman an average of 2.9 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.

Right now, Roman's rating on the BBB website lands at 2.33/5 stars from a total of 10 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 any 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

Not sure whether to go with Roman?

Talk with a doctor who knows your medical history before you start any new medications.

You may want to have several online appointments with Roman physicians to get a couple of opinions on whether these medications are right for you.

Here are some questions you can ask during your appointment:

Read more about how Roman stacks up with competitors.

If you meet the criteria for Roman telemedicine and your prescription is approved, you are ready to order.

You select whether you'd like 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'd like.

Roman does not currently accept health insurance as a form of payment.

Addressing your health overall can also help ED. Managing stress, sleep, relationships, and other health conditions can help you find even more success in reducing symptoms of ED.

Here are some lifestyle changes you can make that might help with ED symptoms:

  • aerobic exercises
  • yoga
  • meditation
  • counseling

Here are some dietary changes you can make:

  • Eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
  • Reduce how much processed sugar, whole-fat dairy, and red meat you eat.
  • Drink alcohol in moderate amounts or consider not drinking any alcohol.

It's important to discuss with a doctor or pharmacist any medications and supplements you're taking or are interested in taking. This will ensure that they're safe and won't work against each other or your health goals.

Other ED treatments

There are other ED treatment options that you may want to discuss with a doctor. These options include:

  • Penile injections. Also called intracavernosal injections (ICI), these injections deliver medications directly into the penis. These are not the same as platelet-rich plasma injections, which are considered an experimental treatment for ED.
  • Surgery for a penile implant or a prosthesis. These procedures are another option for treating ED.
  • Vacuum erectile device. This is another option for treating ED and can be used along with oral PDE5 inhibitors.

Some doctors suggest you visit a urologist if your ED medication isn't helping you get and keep an erection 50 percent of the time or more.

If you have a chronic health condition or your doctor suspects an underlying condition might be involved with your ED, you might 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 4 to 6 hours, while Cialis can last 24 to 36 hours.

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 (up to once per day, when needed).

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 any possible risks, interactions, or side effects of using Roman medications. This is especially important if you use PDE5 inhibitors in high doses.

Roman is one of several alternatives to traditional healthcare systems and prescription channels to get men's health treatments for ED and other health issues.

If you're having trouble affording a healthcare plan that covers ED treatments, Roman can help fill the gap by giving you access to safe, reliable treatments.

If you feel self-conscious about ED, Roman provides physician consultations and discreet packaging so that you can effectively manage this common condition.