Practo has reported a 200% surge in sexual health consultations (both in-person and online) over the past five years, reflecting a proactive approach to sexual healthcare. Notable highlights include:

1. Explosive Growth:

- Online consultations have grown 8-fold in the last five years.

- The share of online consultations relative to total consultations (in-person + online) has increased from 22% in 2017 to 70% in 2022.

2. City Trends for Online Consultations:

- Bengaluru saw online consultations rise to 68% in 2022 from 3% in 2017.

- Chennai’s online consultations increased to 47% in 2022 from 1% in 2017.

- Delhi accounted for 82% in 2022, up from 3% in 2017.

- Hyderabad witnessed a rise to 57% in 2022 from 6% in 2017.

- Mumbai’s online consultations increased to 60% in 2022 from 7% in 2017.

- Pune experienced a rise to 41% in 2022 from 1% in 2017.

- Tier 2 cities collectively accounted for 84% in 2022, compared to 68% in 2017.

This shift towards online consultations reflects growing patient comfort in seeking private and convenient advice from healthcare professionals.

City-wise Share:

- Among T1 cities, Bengaluru contributed the highest share of online consultations in 2022 at 45%, followed by Delhi at 21%, Mumbai at 13%, Pune at 7%, Hyderabad at 10%, and Chennai at 4%.

- Top 5 tier 2 cities favoring online consultations include Kolkata, Jaipur, Lucknow, Ahmedabad, and Coimbatore.

Dr Alexander Kuruvilla, Chief Health Strategy Officer at Practo, commented on the findings, saying,

“During the pandemic, online consultations emerged as a pillar of support for the healthcare ecosystem, ensuring access to quality patient care. And since then it has gained widespread adoption. The benefit of telehealth that enables patients to securely connect with doctors 24/7/365 and the ability to discuss conditions in privacy within patients’ own safe space are some of the key reasons for preference of online consultations for sexual health, dermatology, and psychiatry. Additionally, the availability of doctors who speak the same language as the patients helps patients express more freely. These insights are reflective of the potential of digital health and the impact it can create to empower patients to take control of their health.”

Dr Ishwar Gilada, Sexologist, Venereologist & HIV Specialist, shared his view on the insights, stating,

“In the realm of sexual health consultations, a notable surge has occurred over the past year or two. Male individuals, often grappling with erectile dysfunction, are exhibiting an openness to address various interconnected issues, including vitamin deficiencies and the consequences of remote work. Sedentary lifestyles, vitamin imbalances, and diminished outdoor activities have amplified these concerns. This rising trend extends to diverse orientations, potentially influenced by evolving societal acceptance. A remarkable shift from reluctance to open discussions characterizes this surge, marking a doubling or even tripling increase over the past 4-5 years, further intensified post-lockdown.”