When it comes to men’s health, there’s a stereotype that guys are more reluctant to book time with their GP to discuss issues, which can result in untreated problems.
Whether that stereotype remains true or not is hard to gauge, but there are several companies now set up to offer remote health care services – and Manual could be ideal for many men who need help.
But who exactly are Manual, what do they offer, and are their services worth investing in? Let’s take a look.
Who are Manual?
Manual is a UK-based company specialising in men’s health solutions, with treatment plans for a range of different healthcare needs. While they primarily cover UK patients, they also have a Brazilian website too.
Led by Chief Medical Officer Earim Chaudry, and with a team of medical specialists and pharmacists, they aim to offer a full range of treatments and advice to men from remote diagnosis through to provision of treatments, so that guys can get all the help they need without ever having to visit a doctor or pharmacist in person.
Services Offered
There are a number of different services offered by Manual.
Hair Loss
Hair loss is one of the main healthcare issues covered by Manual, with a team of specialists on-hand to examine your unique needs when it comes to your hair loss, and then recommend a course of treatments using finasteride, minoxidil or a combination of the two to help protect your existing hair and promote regrowth.
The company now also offers hair transplant surgery with their own surgeon, but most customers are recommended to start with the drug treatment first unless they already have advanced hair loss that can’t be reversed. If there’s no chance of the drug treatment working on its own, then you’ll still be in good hands with their own hair transplant Dr.
Low Testosterone
Manual also specialises in providing support for men with low testosterone, which can have a range of effects including anxiety, unwanted weight loss, low energy and more.
Manual offers helpful advice on the causes of low testosterone, and can provide supplements to replace the hormone for those who need it.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is becoming a rapidly-growing sector of the business, with Manual able to prescribe weight loss drugs to those who need it. It’s not just about offering medication to help users lose weight, though – Manual also has a range of digital tools and support systems in place to promote long-term wellbeing so that men can get control of their weight and live a healthy life.
Erectile Dysfunction
When you talk about men’s health, ED is one of the most common problems that men are concerned with, especially when looking for a service that is discreet and that doesn’t require in-person or even phone consultations that can be awkward and embarrassing for some.
How it Works
Manual’s mission is to keep things as simple as possible for men. They streamline the whole process of getting a prescription for certain treatments, but not in a way that is deceptive.
Men who want to research their options in the beginning of their journey will find that Manual offers a huge range of written guides online, that explain the effectiveness of their treatments as backed by science.
But those customers who just want a service that’s quick and easy, that they can trust with their health, can quickly access it through the simple step-by-step process.
Working with Manual is easy – you’ll just visit their website, choose the treatment you need, and then go through an online assessment to explain the issues specifically affecting you. Once you’ve answered the questions, you’ll have your information reviewed by one of the specialists in the Manual team, and they’ll get back to you with a recommended treatment plan.
The one key area that’s different is with low testosterone issues. This does require an extra step, because the team at Manual work hard to make sure you aren’t given unnecessary and potentially harmful hormone treatments if you don’t need them. There are risks involved if you took testosterone supplements when you don’t need them, so for these treatments you will be sent a blood test kit which will require a finger prick.
Once you’ve had your recommended treatment approved by the Manual team, you’ll be given a prescription to use with them, and can order your medication. They deliver next working day, at no extra cost, so you can get up and running quickly.
Costs
The costs for using Manual will entirely depend on the health service you’re in need of, but broadly we can say that costs are not extortionate when compared to other companies that also support men’s health.
For hair loss treatments, men can expect to pay £18 per month for finasteride, £29 per month for minoxidil, or £38 per month for a complete plan that includes both. That’s a little odd, since it’s more expensive to just get minoxidil, but that’s the pricing structure listed on the website.
Initially you’ll also get to take advantage of reduced costs, with the complete plan discounted to £19 per month, finasteride to £14 per month and minoxidil to £18 per month (so at least with the discounts, this makes more sense that the complete plan is the more expensive option).
You can probably expect to pay those costs for the duration of your first prescription of a year, but then you may be liable for the increased costs once that’s up.
And that’s a key thing to remember for most of the treatment options provided by Manual – you’re not looking at a short-term solution. You can’t hope to pay for just a few months and then get past your issues – you’ll often need these treatments for life.
So that’s worth bearing in mind before you sign up – yes, you’ll see that the hair treatments advertise results in 3-6 months, but if you want to maintain that then you’ll need to continue paying for the treatments for many years.
Support
One of the main reasons to choose Manual isn’t just because they offer affordable medication from home, but rather their excellent support options for customers.
Once you register, you’ll have an account which you can use to track your progress with your medication. Manual’s tools give you all the research and information you need on what you’re using, making sure to present it in a way that’s easy to understand. You can use this to review your progress if you’re interested – but it’s completely optional.
If you have any problems at any point, you can speak to the medical team via the app or website to find out more about what could be going wrong and if there are any changes needed to your plan. It’s super-easy to make sure you’re getting the right level of support, all at your convenience too.
Once you’ve completed a year of treatment (although this may vary depending on what you’re using Manual for), you’ll be reviewed by the team and, assuming all is OK, issued with a repeat prescription so that you can continue to move forward with your treatment.
Summary
Manual is a great choice for the average guy who wants help with common health issues, without the inconvenience of going to speak to a doctor or pharmacist in person. And that includes getting help with hair loss, whether that’s focusing on the medication options or even getting a hair transplant (although that will require in-person visits, of course…).
With free next day delivery on medications and fantastic support available from the medical staff behind Manual, it’s a service that’s absolutely worth considering when you need help. The extent of your hair loss could mean that you can’t take advantage of the fully remote service, but for those in the early stages who just want to minimise loss and protect what hair they have, Manual is a useful option to consider.
Just bear in mind that it’s a long-term commitment, and not something you can get away with for just a few months. If you’re happy to commit then you are likely to see good results.
