Hegseth’s dubious low-T screening may flag up to 25 percent of the Army
Summary
A recent study found that up to 25 percent of active-duty Army members could test positive for low testosterone in a new mandatory screening, even though the true condition is rare. Experts warn this could cause unnecessary and potentially harmful medical tests and treatments.Key Facts
- The Army will start mandatory low testosterone screening for all service members.
- A study tested 479 male active-duty Army members and estimated results could mark about 26% as having low testosterone using a cutoff of below 300 ng/dL.
- True medical low testosterone (male hypogonadism) affects less than 1% of men.
- Testosterone levels can change due to factors like age, illness, stress, sleep, weight, and medication, making single tests unreliable.
- The American Urological Association and Endocrine Society recommend testing only men who show symptoms, not everyone.
- Overdiagnosis may lead to unnecessary treatment that can cause side effects like infertility.
- The Pentagon released clinical guidelines in September to implement this screening despite expert caution.
- Study samples were taken in the morning after fasting, between August 2024 and January 2026, from five Army bases.
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