The Fast Facts
- Roman offers telemedicine consults with licensed healthcare professionals who can prescribe ED medications and provide ongoing support with unlimited follow-ups.
- All meds are shipped within 2 business days in discreet, unmarked packaging to protect customer privacy.
- Roman’s generic Viagra pills (sildenafil) cost between $4 and $10 per dose, making it a more affordable option compared to brand-name medications.
If you’re interested in men’s health services but don’t want to make an in-person doctor’s visit, you may have come across the brand Roman.
We’re taking a close look at the brand: its services, what’s behind the hype of its popular erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments, other products you can try, and whether it’s worth checking out.
We also had two testers walk through the sign-up process so you get an idea of what it’s like to make an account, how Roman guards your privacy, and more.
Roman’s ED treatments are its most popular offering. The company provides brand-name Viagra, generic Viagra (sildenafil), brand-name Cialis, and generic Cialis (tadalafil).
Here’s a brief overview of the ED medications Roman provides:
About Ro Sparks
Ro Sparks is a compounded prescription drug that combines two different medications to create a new product. Since these compounded prescription drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is a bigger risk to the user. So, we do not recommend this product, and it did not pass our vetting process.
The Ro Daily Rise Gummies are also a compounded prescription drug. But they use only one drug — tadalafil — and are in gummy form.
We encourage you to talk with a healthcare professional before starting any medication relating to ED and to be mindful of any side effects.
What are the potential drawbacks of Ro Sparks?
Ro Sparks is a sublingual medication, meaning you must keep it under your tongue until it dissolves, which Ro states can take around 10 minutes. You cannot eat or drink during this time, which may be inconvenient for some.
Ro Sparks only comes in one dosage, and it carries the same risk of side effects as Viagra and other ED medications.
It may also be more expensive than generic FDA-approved ED medications like sildenafil.
We had two testers go through the Roman onboarding process.
Aaron* was looking into whether Viagra or other ED meds would help with his sexual performance. Parisa, our other tester, identifies as a female and only tested the sign-up process.
She tested this platform voluntarily, stating, “The function of these drugs is the same; it’s the services that are different. I wanted to test what the process was like from sign-up to the confirmation page.”
Both testers found the process relatively straightforward, but they had concerns about their privacy.
Aaron stopped the intake questionnaire after it asked him for his email and other information.
“Privacy is very important to me when I vet a site for ED, so I found it difficult to justify moving forward, sharing my email before I could fully vet the site,” he said.
Parisa went through the whole process. She did create an email account specifically for this walkthrough, though, so she did not have any concerns about privacy. At one point after the questionnaire, she was asked to provide a photo ID for verification.
*Name has been changed at the request of the tester.
Step 1: Fill out an assessment and create a profile
Roman claims to make prescription products easier to access through a subscription-based, telehealth model.
Aaron’s first impression of Roman was not very positive.
“I found the immediate impression to be kind of ‘sales pitchy’ and more focused on pushing products rather than addressing health needs,” he said. While he browsed the products Ro offered, Aaron became uncomfortable seeing gummies and mints that were not FDA-approved.
Parisa believed the interface to be clean and easy to navigate, but did agree that the push for compound medications could be unclear or off-putting to those who don’t know the difference.
Aaron also found it more difficult than usual to begin the questionnaire. Aaron noted the main call to action for the questionnaire was overshadowed by the pills and treatments that Ro was pushing.
When Aaron started the questionnaire, he was surprised by its flow. After just a few questions, he was asked to enter his email and create a password before continuing, which he did not feel comfortable doing without fully vetting the website and its security.
Aaron did not continue with the questionnaire.
Step 2: Verify identity
Parisa continued to the end and found that it took about 5 to 7 minutes to get to the confirmation page. “There is a disclaimer at the bottom that says your first shipment will be sent after your Ro healthcare professional reviews and writes a prescription.”
You’ll also need to submit a picture of your photo ID and a clear photo of your face. Certain U.S. states require an additional step: a video chat with one of Roman’s healthcare professionals. These professionals are doctors with independently owned practices.
You may need to submit additional information. 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.
Step 3 and Step 4: Confirmation page and discussion with healthcare professional
If you meet the criteria for Roman telemedicine and your prescription is approved, you’re ready to order.
You can choose a quarterly or monthly subscription for your medications, or a one-time purchase. Within 2 days, the products are mailed to your home in an unmarked box and discreet packaging.
You can cancel the subscription at any time.
Roman doesn’t currently accept health insurance as a form of payment.
Step 5: Receive the medication
If the dedicated healthcare professional determines you’re a fit for an ED med, you’ll receive your treatment by mail, with discreet shipping, in about 2 business days.
Roman also offers unlimited follow-ups after you receive your medication, so you can check in with a healthcare professional at any time.
See Roman’s website for a full list of medications and prices.
* All prices are accurate at the time of publishing.
If you’re experiencing ED symptoms, it may feel intimidating or even embarrassing to ask for help. Roman helps reduce that discomfort by letting you talk with a doctor online and have medications shipped discreetly to your door.
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.
You can’t get Viagra without a prescription, so we made sure to include only companies that require a prescription or provide a consultation with a healthcare professional who can write a prescription.
We also ensure that sponsors and business partners never influence our content.
• sildenafil (generic Viagra)
• brand-name Cialis
• tadalafil (generic Cialis)
• sildenafil (generic Viagra)
• brand-name Cialis
• tadalafil (generic Cialis)
• tadalafil (generic Cialis)
• vardenafil (generic Levitra)
• sildenafil (generic Viagra)
• brand-name Cialis
• tadalafil (generic Cialis)
Our Medical Standards and Insights team has carefully researched and vetted over 11,000 products and services. We evaluate services for consistency with standards of care and best practices, and we look into each brand’s reputation before sharing products and services on Healthline.
To choose the services on this page, we considered all the ED treatment services that passed our vetting process. Then, we scored each service to narrow down our list even further.
Both sildenafil and tadalafil are phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE5) inhibitors and have been approved by the FDA for prescription use under a doctor’s supervision.
However, be sure to talk with a doctor about possible risks, interactions, or side effects of using any Roman medications, especially when using PDE5 inhibitors in high doses.
Keep in close contact with a doctor if you notice any new symptoms.
PDE5 inhibitor side effects
Some side effects are possible with sildenafil and tadalafil, including:
- rashes
- flushing
- skin redness
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- back pain
- headache
- runny nose
- indigestion (dyspepsia)
- erection that lasts longer than 4 hours (priapism)
- blurry vision
- blue-tinted vision (called cyanopsia)
If you’re taking nitrates (medications for chest pain) such as isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket), and nitroglycerin (Nitromist, Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat), tell a doctor. Taking these medications with PDE5 inhibitors can cause dangerously low blood pressure.
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 a 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 a doctor may also refer you to a mental health professional.
Generally, healthcare 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.
It’s important not to confuse ED medications with Revatio. This pill contains 20 mg of sildenafil and is prescribed to treat pulmonary hypertension. Treatment for pulmonary hypertension involves taking three Revatio pills per day. This dosing schedule is specific to pulmonary hypertension and should not be used for erectile dysfunction.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are FDA-approved for prescription use under a doctor’s supervision. However, that doesn’t mean they come without risks or side effects.
Pay attention to any new symptoms, and talk with a doctor about possible risks, interactions, or side effects of using Roman medications. This is especially important if you use PDE5 inhibitors in high doses.
Roman ED medications typically begin working after about 30 to 60 minutes. However, taking daily Cialis means that you could potentially be ready for sex without having to take the pill ahead of an anticipated encounter.
The number of Roman pills you should take depends on the specific medication and your directions. Follow product directions and speak to a physician if you are unsure.
You can get ED medication through Ro for between $4 and $90 per dose, depending on the drug you choose. There are some bundle options that can cost over $100 a month. Online health consultations are typically free.
Whether Roman or BlueChew will be better for your needs will depend on the type of medication you’d like and your budget. There are many similarities between the two brands, but BlueChew is known for its chewable medication, which may be preferable to some. Ro offers generic and brand-name ED drugs and some compounded options.
BlueChew is typically cheaper than Ro, but it is a subscription service. Ro is more flexible and still offers very affordable generic ED medication.
Learn more in our direct comparison between Roman and BlueChew.
If you’re feeling self-conscious about ED and don’t have access to a healthcare plan that covers treatments, Roman can help fill the gap by offering safe, reliable treatments.
Roman provides physician consultations and discreet packaging so you can effectively manage this common condition.