Direct-to-consumer virtual care company Hims & Hers is once again expanding its product line, this time with the launch of a dietary supplement powder to support urinary tract health.

Hims & Hers is selling the powder in packs of 10 cranberry-raspberry flavored single-serve packets. The ingredients include D-mannose, a sugar found in cranberry juice; electrolytes like calcium, magnesium and potassium; and antioxidants such as vitamins C and B6.

The packets can be purchased directly from the ForHers website as a one-time purchase for $22 or as a subscription at a discounted price of $20 per month.

WHY THIS MATTERS

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common outpatient infections in the U.S., with between 50% and 60% of adult women experiencing at least one UTI in their lifetime, according to Therapeutic Advances in Urology.

These infections are most common during the years of peak sexual activity, usually between the ages of 18 and 39. UTIs are known to persist, and more than a quarter of women will have a recurrence within six months of an infection, according to the journal.

“There’s a clear need for ways to be proactive about urinary tract health,” Hilary Coles, cofounder and senior vice president of Brand and Innovation at Hims & Hers, said in a statement.

“It is important to have holistic, over-the-counter options to promote the various elements of women’s health, which is why we are now offering these tasty single-serve packets formulated with vitamins and electrolytes that have been shown to help maintain urinary tract balance.”

D-mannose is a common ingredient in UTI medications for what researchers believe is its ability to block bacteria from latching onto the urinary tract. In fact, studies show D-mannose is an effective treatment and preventative agent for UTIs.

THE LARGER TREND

2021 has been a busy year for Hims & Hers so far. The company started the year off big by closing its SPAC merger and listing on the NYSE.

Since then, Hims & Hers has made a number of strategic acquisitions. First, it scooped up British personalized health company Honest Health with sights set on global expansion. The company quickly followed that up when it purchased the teledermatology platform Apostrophe to expand its skincare services.

Uqora, a urinary tract health company, also sells UTI supplements with similar ingredients from its direct-to-consumer website.

Meanwhile, there are a number of digital health companies focusing on the diagnostic side of UTIs. In 2019, Scanwell raised $3.5 million in seed funding to take its mobile platform for home urinary tract infection screening nationwide. Then last year, TestCard launched its noninvasive at-home urinary tract infection test kit across the UK.