The starting point is my experience in my 20s. Reasons for challenging men’s wellness with “online ED, AGA medical service”

Over the past few years, femtech has been gaining momentum to support women’s social advancement. On the other hand, the field of men’s wellness that solves men’s health issues, also called “Mentech”Male infertility, ED (erectile dysfunction), AGA (male pattern baldness)I have the impression that such areas have not yet been largely featured.

Just like the Femtech field, the Mentech field is also a complex and sensitive issue for those concerned. Because of the taboo consciousness, many people find it difficult to talk to their friends or partners about their worries, and many of them end up taking care of them all by themselves. In the current situation surrounding such ED and AGA treatment,An online medical treatment system and a worldview of a brand with a sense of diversityI’m trying to throw a stone atTomoe HiranoMr. (Tomoaki) serves as the representative “Oops”.

“ED and AGA itself should be a small worry like “Oops (= Oops!)”We asked Mr. Hirano about the background behind the launch of the service, what he is aware of in terms of contact points with users, and the perspectives necessary to promote men’s wellness in society.

In fact, “stiff shoulders are national”.However, the troubles of ED that are difficult to consult

In April 2021, ED medical service “Oops LOVE(Oops at the time)”, he says that the original experience of launching was his own worries.

“I had a partner when I was in college, but when I had sex, I kept thinking, ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ I felt very uncomfortable.”

The website isreclaim your youthful selfThe design on the top page was a muscular man with a shirtless body.I felt a strong sense of discomfort, but when I received medical treatment, the prescribed therapeutic drug was definitely effective. It is completely different from the usual supplements and energy drinks, and he felt that the treatment of ED with regular medicine has already been established.

“Although it is positive as a medical treatment, there are hurdles to reach there, and the image is negative. After graduating from university, I got a job at an advertising agency and helped companies with marketing strategies and branding. I remember my college days inI thought that I might be able to fill the gap by solving the “wonderful but not appealing” products and services with a way of showing and a world view.That’s it.”

ED is a symptom experienced by 1 in 4 adult men in Japan, or 14 million people.In fact, stiff shoulders are a national problemHirano says that one in seven young people in their 20s and 30s suffer from ED.

“When I took the plunge and talked to my friends,I was too””I’m worried now’ is a lot of reactions. There was a feeling that I wanted to teach me at that time.”

I’m sure there are still people younger than me who are worried about this problem, and I’m sure they feel it’s hard to talk to them.. The concept of “Oops” was born from the idea that “then let’s change the situation.”

Aiming for “a design that does not exclude anyone”

“Oops LOVE” is an ED medical service in which all steps, from appointment to prescription, are online. “Aiming to be the most familiar, the most reliable, and the easiest to consult withAs Mr. Hirano said, from the site design to the package of the treatment drug, to the models that appear,Approximately 70% of users in their 20s and 30s have created a world view that is easy to sympathize with..

“Above all, I wanted to create a design that does not exclude anyone. The site has an image of many hands lined up, but there are various skin colors, and some hands have tattoos. The characters also include transgender people, and their ages are all over the place. Thanks to you, this design was evaluated by Pentaward, a global design award, and won a gold medal.

When I thought about the design, I decided to ask a female art director.. If I ask a man to do something like black as the theme color, I feel like he’s going to pursue something more ‘glamorous and cool’.”

AGA medical service launched as the second service “Oops HAIR”, but the same world view was pierced.

“‘Oops HAIR’ is a service that perfectly embodies my complex. Maybe it’s a family thing, but I’ve been worried about my forehead since I was in my 20s. I learned that treatment guidelines have been established for AGA as well.”

The Japanese Dermatological Association has a clinical practice guideline for AGA, but Mr. Hirano says that the information is confusing and it is difficult to access the correct treatment.didIn order to flatten the information asymmetry and reduce the burden of going to the hospital, etc., we launched “Oops HAIR”, which allows you to receive online medical consultations and medicine prescriptions with an affordable and simple plan..

Behind the speedy business development of launching a new service four months after “Oops LOVE”,The lifting of the ban on online medical treatment due to the influence of the corona disaster was significantsays Mr. Hirano.

“It was around the time when the coronavirus crisis began that things didn’t go well with my partner. That’s when I came up with the idea of ​​the ‘Oops’ business, and at the same time, online medical consultations started to spread. Even so, I think it was a situation where “it is meaningful as a business, but it is legally difficult.”

People often say that starting a business is the right time, but I really realized it——Mr. Hirano looks back.

ED/AGA treatment is life design.Towards a world where we can face each other more comfortably

It’s been about a year and a half since I started Oops. While listening to the user’s voice, once again “ED and AGA treatment are related to life designMr. Hirano said that he came to think.

“Both services emphasize online counseling, but in ED consultations,”Many people suffer from the pressure of being masculine and being able to do it. There is not much of an atmosphere in which men can talk to each other, and there are many people who take pride in themselves. Also, like my experience, there are many people around the age of 20 who are worried.I was relieved to be able to talk to someone for the first timeI often get the impression that

What made me really happy recently was the words from the FTM who is transgender. She said that there are many people around her who are also suffering from AGA because they are injecting male hormones, and female hormones are relatively reduced as a result. In this case, it is basically an unapproved treatment, so we cannot provide the service.I saw the site and thought that I definitely want to receive the service here”and. So he consulted with a doctor, and managed to obtain a written consent, which made it possible for him to receive treatment.”

A user of AGA medical treatment said, “Until now, I was worried about thinning hair and could not challenge it.You can now enjoy perms and coloring”, and it is said that he has come to think that it is also a part of men’s beauty.

“I feel that early AGA treatment is similar to the existence of sunscreen in terms of preventive care. For men, AGA can be a pressure to get married early. With my own experience,If I could ease those worries even just a little,I think that

Create a world where everyone can more comfortably design a life that is comfortable for themselves and their partners. I look forward to future developments of Oops and Mr. Hirano, who is considering not only maintenance services but also the third service.

［Oops LOVE, Oops HAIR］

Reprinted from MASHING UP (Released on September 27, 2022)

(Text: Airi Tanabe, photography: Yutaro Yamaguchi)

Airi Tanabe:Writer. After graduating from Gakushuin University, worked as a curator at the Century Museum and created audio guides for art exhibitions before becoming independent. In her 40s, she awakens to the importance of healthcare and social good, and works on interview articles and book introductions in a wide range of genres such as lifestyle, art, and SDGs initiatives.