Frequently asked questions

orva is a Swiss telemedicine platform for physician-guided treatment pathways in hereditary hair loss. You start with a medical questionnaire. Licensed Swiss doctors review your answers, and if it is medically suitable, a Swiss partner pharmacy compounds your personal formula and delivers it to your door on a subscription, regularly and discreetly.

You start with the medical questionnaire. Licensed Swiss doctors usually review your answers within 1 to 2 business days once your documents are complete. If a treatment is medically suitable, a prescription can be issued. The partner pharmacy then handles compounding and delivery.

Prescription-only ingredients such as finasteride or dutasteride require a doctor's prescription. orva connects you with licensed Swiss doctors who review your answers online and issue a prescription if it is medically suitable. Certain topical minoxidil products are available from Swiss pharmacies without a prescription.

Your prescription is issued by a doctor licensed in Switzerland. They review your questionnaire answers and decide whether, and which, treatment is medically suitable for you. orva itself gives no medical recommendations; that decision always stays with the doctor.

If a treatment is not medically suitable, none is prescribed. Your doctor explains why and, where possible, points you to sensible next steps. In that case, we refund the full amount of your initial assessment to your payment method.

The treatments are intended for adults with hereditary hair loss, known as androgenetic alopecia. Whether a treatment suits you is assessed by a licensed Swiss doctor based on your answers. Not everyone is suitable for every treatment.

For androgenetic alopecia, active ingredients such as minoxidil, finasteride and dutasteride may be considered. Which one fits you is decided by your doctor. Prescribed formulas are compounded individually for you by Swiss pharmacies.

A compounded formula (Magistralrezeptur) is a treatment that Swiss pharmacies make individually for you, rather than a standard off-the-shelf product. Several active ingredients can be combined into a single application, and the formula can be made without excipients such as propylene glycol, which triggers scalp irritation in some people. What goes into your formula is decided by your doctor.

Oral treatments are taken as a tablet, while topical ones are applied directly to the scalp. Both forms are used for hair loss and differ in how you use them and how they are tolerated. No oral minoxidil medicine is authorized in Switzerland, so it is currently not prescribed through orva. Which form suits you is assessed by your doctor.

Yes. Minoxidil, finasteride and dutasteride have been studied in clinical trials. The evidence differs by ingredient and use. Individual results can vary, and which treatment is suitable is decided by your doctor.

Hair growth takes time. In clinical studies, first changes appeared after about 3 to 6 months of regular use. Individual results can vary. Your doctor supports you along the way and adjusts the treatment if needed.

Yes. With a subscription, your doctor accompanies you. After 3, 6 and 12 months and yearly thereafter, a progress review based on your photos follows. If your progress is not on track, your doctor can adjust your treatment. You can follow your photos over time under My Journey in your orva portal.

Yes, once your treatment is running and a physician is assigned to you. In the portal you put your question to the physician who leads your treatment. With a running subscription that is included. If you hold a prescription without a subscription, a question to the physician costs CHF 39. For anything that is not medical, such as your account, invoice or delivery, the care team is there in the support chat.

The medical initial assessment costs a one-time CHF 99. It covers the review of your information by a Swiss doctor, including a prescription if a treatment is medically appropriate. If you then choose a subscription, the initial assessment is credited toward it depending on the term you choose. We show the subscription cost and the exact credit transparently before you check out. You can also choose a prescription without a subscription. You then pay for the medicines separately at your pharmacy.

Yes. If treatment is medically appropriate for you, you can get a prescription for a ready-made medicine without a subscription. You receive your original prescription by post, usually within 7 business days, and redeem it at the pharmacy of your choice. You pay for the medicines separately, directly at the pharmacy. The initial medical assessment does not commit you to a subscription.

Your first medical follow-up (check-in) is included. Each further follow-up costs CHF 59. Your doctor reviews your treatment and decides whether to renew your prescription. The first prescription is usually issued for up to 3 months. After that, depending on your doctor’s assessment, repeat prescriptions for up to 12 months may be possible. Your doctor decides how often you need a follow-up and a new prescription, in consultation with you. Nothing renews automatically.

No. Treatments for hereditary hair loss are not covered by Swiss health insurance. They count as a self-pay service, so you cover the cost of the medical initial assessment and the treatment yourself.

Yes. You can cancel your subscription at any time in your account. It stays active until the end of the term you have already paid for, after which nothing more is charged. A single medical initial assessment is not a subscription and does not renew automatically.

A Swiss partner pharmacy compounds your personalized formula individually and delivers it discreetly to your home. The first delivery usually arrives within 3 to 7 working days. You don't need to visit a pharmacy, and you manage delivery in your orva portal.

While your subscription is active, the partner pharmacy delivers your treatment every 3 months. Each shipment contains your supply for the next three months so you can use it without interruption. You can see your expected delivery date in your orva portal.

Yes. Shipping is in neutral packaging that gives no indication of the contents.

All assessments are carried out by doctors licensed in Switzerland, and the medicines come from pharmacies that hold a cantonal authorization. The same medical duty of care applies as for in-person treatment. Because no physical examination is possible, the doctors take particular care and only prescribe when your health situation is sufficiently known.

Your health data is handled in line with Swiss data protection law and used only for your medical assessment and treatment. Medical information is specially protected and is not publicly accessible.

Yes. Prescription-only medicines may only be prescribed by doctors licensed in Switzerland, and only once your health situation is known. That is exactly what the detailed medical questionnaire is for. Under the Therapeutic Products Act, home delivery is permitted with a valid prescription and through a pharmacy that holds a cantonal authorization. orva meets both conditions.