Nurx Introduces Convenient & Stigma-Free Treatment for Herpes

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Nurx, the health tech company providing convenient and affordable care for sensitive health needs, today introduced treatment for people living with oral and genital herpes through its telemedicine platform. Nurx now offers its patients the ability to manage outbreaks on their own time with online consultations and home delivery of medication, eliminating the need to make an appointment, travel to a clinic, or wait in line at the pharmacy.

Herpes is incredibly common - an estimated 1 in 2 people have oral herpes and 1 in 6 people have genital herpes1 - and outbreaks are easily manageable with prescription-strength medication. This new health service is another example of how Nurx is committed to addressing highly-stigmatized health conditions, leveraging telemedicine to connect patients with compassionate medical providers that will help them take charge of their sensitive healthcare decisions on their own time. As with all of its healthcare services, the company is committed to providing its patients with transparent and affordable pricing by accepting most health insurance and offering cost-effective options for those who are uninsured.

Nurx is also uniquely positioned to provide women with treatment, considering more than 200,000 women choose Nurx for their health needs and 1 in 5 women are living with genital herpes.2 The company will also provide genital herpes treatment to pregnant women. Neonatal herpes is a serious and often fatal condition, and if a pregnant woman has an outbreak at the time of delivery, there is a very high risk of spreading herpes to her infant. While the company will advocate for pregnant women to receive prenatal care from their local provider, the company recognizes there is a significant access gap for prenatal health services and is compelled to offer medication that is safe for pregnant women and potentially life-saving for their future child.

"The experience of seeking treatment for herpes can often be confusing, uncomfortable, isolating, and nerve-wracking," said Nurx CEO Varsha Rao. "We can't prevent the spread of herpes without addressing the stigma often associated with herpes. In addition to making it as convenient as possible for our patients to manage their outbreaks, our clinical team is committed to providing our patients with compassionate care while making it clear that herpes does not need to get in the way of having a normal sex life."

According to a recent national survey conducted by the company, there is a clear knowledge gap when it comes to herpes, with only 5 percent of respondents correctly answering how many people are living with oral herpes, and 75 percent of respondents underestimating how many people are living with genital herpes. As part of its mission to empower people to make informed decisions about their health, Nurx is committed to addressing the overblown fear and stigma associated with herpes. Nurx's "Knowledge Center", which provides over 500 expert answers on a wide variety of sensitive health topics, will address common misperceptions about herpes, as well as guidance on how to manage outbreaks and live with herpes.

With over 200,000 current patients across the country, providing treatment for herpes is yet another example of how the company is addressing rising rates of sexually transmitted infections. In addition to PrEP for HIV prevention and HPV home testing for cervical cancer screening, the company most recently introduced STI home test kits and treatment and has already provided thousands of its patients with information about their STI status. Nurx is also the leading online provider for contraception, offering comprehensive options for birth control and emergency contraception.

After a patient shares their health history through the Nurx app, their Nurx medical provider will consult with the patient regarding their request within 1-2 days while the Nurx platform checks their insurance. If approved by their Nurx provider, medication arrives in discreet packaging at the patient's home within 3-5 days. After their initial consultation or exam, Nurx patients also have unlimited access to their provider, allowing them to ask as many questions about this health condition as they'd like.

Nurx eliminates the average wait time of 24 days to find an available doctor's appointment3, as well as the average two hours Americans spend driving to a doctor's office, sitting in the waiting room, and filling out forms for a limited amount of face-to-face time with the doctor.4

Nurx is offering the most effective medication to manage outbreaks, and this treatment will be available to patients in 27 states and the District of Columbia, encompassing 85 percent of the U.S. population. Patients can learn more at nurx.com/genital-herpes-treatment

About Nurx
Nurx is a health tech company providing convenient, affordable, and personalized care for sensitive health needs. By reimagining the healthcare experience, Nurx offers patients transparent pricing and judgment-free care whenever and wherever works best for them. We believe everyone should have the freedom to live well and be in charge of their healthcare decisions, regardless of their circumstances. From diagnosis to delivery, we make every part of getting healthy and staying healthy, better.

1Centers for Disease Control
2Centers for Disease Control
3Merritt Hawkins
4American Journal of Managed Care

Survey Methodology:
This survey was conducted by Atomik Research. The sample of 1,003 adults (18 and older) in the United States was surveyed on December 17th,2019 . The margin of error is 3% and no additional weighting was done to the initial sample.

SOURCE Nurx