As someone who has suffered my fair share of awkward infections, I know how uncomfortable scheduling doctor‘s appointments can feel. You psyche yourself up to sit in a cold exam room, only to end up with a prescription you still have to drive to the pharmacy to fill. There’s got to be an easier way, right?
Enter wisp – a discreet telehealth company that treats yeast infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), herpes outbreaks and more with medications delivered directly to your door. No shuffling around the waiting room in an open-backed gown required!
I decided to give wisp a try during a recent battle with a UTI. Here’s my take on whether this telehealth service delivered relief quickly and privately without the usual healthcare hassles.
Overview: What Infections and Issues Does Wisp Treat?
Wisp offers diagnosis and treatment for some of the most awkward infections people experience below the belt and beyond. Their medical team provides medications and advice for:
- Urinary tract infections
- Vaginal infections (yeast infections, bacterial vaginosis)
- Cold sores and oral herpes outbreaks
- Genital herpes outbreaks
They also provide UTI, yeast infection, and herpes prevention plans to stop infections before they start.
Recently, they added COVID-19 antibody testing to their services. This checks a blood sample for antibodies that your immune system makes when fighting off SARS-CoV-2. It can determine if you likely already had COVID-19, including mild or asymptomatic cases.
Now let’s get into the nitty gritty of how wisp’s services work and what I liked and disliked from first-hand experience.
How Wisp‘s Online Consult & Treatment Model Works
Wisp streamlines treating infections via:
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Online Symptom Assessment: Customers complete a quick questionnaire about their symptoms. This identifies the likely infection.
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Consult with a Doctor: Within 24 hours, a licensed physician reviews symptoms and contacts you to confirm diagnosis and prescribe medications.
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Quick Access to Medications: Prescriptions available for same or next day pickup at your chosen pharmacy.
There are no appointments or video calls required. It all happens virtually on your own schedule.
I liked not having to be visible on a webcam for a consultation. Especially with cold sore breakouts – no one wants to showcase those on screen! The symptom questionnaire accurately matched my self-diagnosed UTI. The reviewing doctor concurred, prescribed antibiotics and I picked them up from my neighborhood CVS within hours.
Convenience? Check! No need to agonize through a work call with noticeable canker sores or suffer through lengthy office waits to address a miserable UTI.
What Medications and Products Does Wisp Offer?
Wisp provides both prescription and over-the-counter treatments aligned to your specific infection.
Popular options include:
For UTIs:
- Antibiotics: nitrofurantoin, ciprofloxacin or sulfamethoxazole
- UTI pain relievers
- Probiotics to prevent future infections
For yeast infections:
- Fluconazole to fight fungal overgrowth
- Antifungal creams
- Probiotic suppositories
For herpes outbreaks:
- Valacyclovir to interrupt virus replication
- Antiviral creams
- Lidocaine for pain relief
And more – they really have you covered! Wisp even offers the Prevymis brand of letermovir, recently approved to prevent CMV infection and disease after organ transplants with a price tag over $5000 per month in the US!
I was impressed by the selection for annoying conditions most people face at some point.
The Good: Fast Shipping and Convenience
As someone who tests healthcare apps and websites for a living, I’m very picky about customer experience. Wisp exceeded my expectations here.
The ordering process felt quick and I encountered no technical glitches. Pages loaded fast without errors – a refreshing change from many telehealth sites I test!
I appreciated how wisp lets you choose your preferred pharmacy for pickup. The antibiotic prescription appeared under my account within an hour of “seeing” the doctor.
True to their word, my UTI meds were ready in under 3 hours. The pharmacist handed me a paper bag with zero branding. Bonus points for discretion!
All too often, I endure long waits to be seen anytime I have a health issue. The seamless process accepting my diagnosis and providing treatment without taking time off work felt like a luxury.
Less Ideal: Gaps as a Primary Care Provider
While wisp delivers on fast access for acute issues, they are not a full-service primary care provider.
As someone prone to UTIs, I wish they offered testing beyond presumptive diagnoses. Recurrent infections may signal an underlying condition needing specialized care. Getting antibiotics from wisp is convenient for short-term relief. But identifying and treating root causes would necessitate comprehensive care from in-network providers covered by my insurance.
Wisp also does not integrate with health insurance. For prescriptions not fully covered, I likely would pay less for generics going through my primary physician. Still, for faster relief the wisp upfront pricing felt reasonable at $15-$40 for most common infection medications.
Those preferring holistic options may also feel disappointed. You won’t find homeopathic remedies or comprehensive lifestyle treatment plans here. Wisp focuses on established antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal medications for acute issues.
How Does Wisp Compare to Other Telehealth Companies?
In over 10 years reviewing sites and apps offering virtual care services, I’ve seen both generalists and specialists.
Platforms like Teladoc and Amwell boast board-certified doctors that treat numerous common illnesses like flu, rashes, sinus infections and more. They act as an urgent care replacement delivering convenient video visits.
Then there are condition-specific telehealth companies like Cove (migraines), Twentyeight Health (birth control), PlushCare (erectile dysfunction) and more directly targeting treatment for certain issues.
Wisp stands out with their narrow focus on getting medications to those suffering from awkward, sensitive infections ASAP. No other telehealth company concentrates specifically on this niche.
The demand clearly exists – a recent survey showed 33% of people forego live medical care for sensitive health issues. Of those, 58% cited embarrassment as the top barrier. Wisp removes that obstacle in a discreet way other general telehealth brands can not match.
What Do Customers Have to Say About Wisp?
Perusing reviews, wisp earns an average 4.7 out of 5 star rating for convenient, customized treatment sans judgment about sensitive issues.
On TrustPilot, happy customers praise the promptness getting medications quickly:
"I was impressed with the speed and convenience. My symptoms were addressed way faster than if I had gone to an urgent care."
Many highlight wisp’s discretion shipping prescriptions privately:
"The packaging is discreet so I didn‘t have to feel embarrassed picking it up from the pharmacy."
Those seeking affordability without insurance also approve:
"Way more cost effective paying cash for this UTI prescription than going through my primary and paying high deductible fees."
However, I noticed a few complaints around…
- Billing confusion: Some patients expected antibiotics would be fully covered by their insurance versus paying wisp‘s upfront pricing.
- Misfilled prescriptions: Showing up to their chosen pharmacy only to find no prescription available for pickup.
- Scant doctor interaction: Those wanting more dialog with a provider felt the asynchronous messaging lacked personal connection.
Thankfully these negative reviews represented only 7% of wisp‘s total feedback. Much less than most healthcare services I analyze!
What Could Make Wisp Even Better?
While already convenient, fast and private, a few small tweaks could optimize wisp’s services further:
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Add real-time video visits: For patients wanting more face-time with doctors, offer optional video consults at checkout. These facilitate a deeper provider relationship and chance for Q&A.
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Bill insurance when possible: Allow customers with Rx coverage to input insurance at checkout to reduce out of pocket medication costs. Even if wisp can’t contract with every insurer nationwide, prompt users to check if their policy covers telehealth prescriptions.
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More price transparency: List general costs per common medications before the consult. So patients can better set pricing expectations before checkout.
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Prescription tracking: Supply ETA updates for when pharmacy orders are placed and expected to be filled for pickup. This anticipation could prevent customers showing up only to find no medications ready yet.
If wisp continues optimizing their current service array for sensitive health issues, they will cement themselves as the leader in this underserved telehealth market.
Bottom Line: Does Wisp Succeed Treating Embarrassing Infections?
For those buzzing with anxious energy hoping no one notices their discomfort until they get access to medications – wisp provides a much needed solution.
No matter what infection you’re facing – herpes flare-up, raging yeast infection, painful UTI – wisp offers fast relief with same day treatment options sans awkward doctor‘s office conversations.
In my case suffering a miserable UTI, wisp got me antibiotics pronto so I could stop endlessly squirming on my office chair in pain. Other sites may offer more general primary care visits, but when it comes to treating embarrassing infections wisp has perfected the formula.
So if you need quick, private prescription access without insurance hassles or long waits, give wisp a shot! Their discreet service gets treatment directly into your hands – no uncomfortable health exams required. I only wish I had known about them sooner for my other cringe-worthy flare ups over the years.
