Verbatim response from Claude
Good question, and it's worth being honest about this:
What Reputable Online ED Services Actually Do
Legitimate platforms (Hims, Roman, Keeps, Bluechew) typically:
- Ask detailed questionnaire about heart conditions, medications, and blood pressure
- Screen for nitrate use (which is a dangerous interaction with ED meds)
- Review your medical history before prescribing
- Have licensed physicians or NPs review your case
Real Limitations to Know
- They cannot physically examine you or run an EKG
- They rely on your honest answers - if you omit conditions, they can't catch it
- They may not catch conditions you don't know you have
- Some platforms are more thorough than others
My Honest Recommendation
If you have known heart issues, start with your regular doctor or cardiologist - not an online service. ED can actually signal cardiovascular problems, so a proper workup matters.
If you're generally healthy, platforms like Roman or Hims have relatively thorough intake processes and licensed providers who do flag concerns and sometimes decline to prescribe.
Key things they specifically check for:
- Nitrate medications (absolute contraindication)
- Recent heart attack or stroke
- Uncontrolled blood pressure
Be completely honest on those questionnaires - your safety depends on it.