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

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate public interest in "Hims," a men's health platform, to assess its impact on healthcare access, and identify geographic trends reflecting gaps in traditional healthcare availability. METHODS: Relative search volume data for erectile dysfunction and early climax terms in "Hims" were collected via Google Trends from November 2017 to December 2023 across the United States. Data were analyzed in two intervals (2017-2020 and 2020-2023) using paired t-tests to compare relative search volume and Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess differences among terms. Geographic regions were examined to identify underserved regions. RESULTS: Public interest in "Hims" increased significantly, with median relative search volume rising from 0 (interquartile range: 0-33) in 2017-2020 to 62 (interquartile range: 30-95) in 2020-2023 (p < 0.05). Searches related to erectile dysfunction rose from a median relative search volume of 18 (interquartile range: 0-100) to 46 (interquartile range: 0-100) (p < 0.001), with similar growth observed in searches related to early climax. High relative search volume was noted in states like Colorado, Wyoming, and Maine, highlighting increased interest in regions with limited healthcare resources. A marked rise in telehealth engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic further emphasized the role of digital platforms in healthcare delivery during periods of restricted access. CONCLUSIONS: The rise in search interest for "Hims" underscores the increasing demand for telehealth services to for men's health, particularly in underserved regions. These findings highlight the potential of digital platforms to bridge gaps in healthcare access.