Doctors and physicians’ groups specializing in men’s health are highly skeptical of War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s proposal to test all military service members for low testosterone, saying it could ultimately be damaging for their health.Hegseth announced a new proposal to create a “High-T” military force by screening service members over age 30 for low testosterone, the hormone in males that is responsible for muscle growth, bone density, sex drive, and mood stabilization.Testosterone decreases slightly with age over time, roughly 1% each year after age 30, but a severely low level of testosterone in the bloodstream, coupled with observable physical symptoms, is a major medical problem.
Hypogonadism, or testosterone deficiency, the medical term for “low-T,” is measured by free-floating testosterone levels in the blood being below 300 nanograms per deciliter. Taking multiple blood samples over several days is recommended when evaluating for hypogonadism, as testosterone levels can fluctuate from day-to-day and are highest in the morning.
Hegseth said testosterone testing, which will be optional for service members under age 30, is intended for “keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation: the absolute best.”Doctors react
