US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for service members aged 30 and older, sparking concerns among medical professionals. The move aims to maintain military readiness, but experts warn it could lead to unnecessary treatment and infertility risks for young men.
The US Department of Defence has stated that the testing will be accompanied by advice to help soldiers make decisions about treatment, which will be voluntary. However, many medical professionals are sceptical about the scientific basis for the new policy.
Ten medical experts contacted by Reuters expressed concerns that screening for low testosterone in all military personnel aged 30 and older may not optimise US combat readiness. They point out that age 30 is a natural point of decline in testosterone levels, and that widespread implementation of screening without preliminary study data would be premature.
According to Dr Kevin McVary, a urologist at Rugiet, a telehealth platform that provides testosterone supplements, giving testosterone without medical symptoms leads to overtreatment, which can have its own adverse consequences. He notes that testosterone supplementation is only recommended for patients with confirmed testosterone deficiency and symptoms such as reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, decreased muscle mass and low bone density.
The American Urological Association and the Endocrine Society advise testosterone supplementation only for patients with confirmed testosterone deficiency and symptoms. Dr Haleem Mohammed, chief medical officer of Gameday Health, notes that age 30 itself is not an appropriate point for screening, as levels naturally decline with age, starting around this point.