Hegseth wants a "High-T" military; doctors call it a clinical minefield

Military readiness and health screening are at the center of a new U.S. Defense Department proposal after Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military will require testosterone deficiency screening for active duty and reserve personnel aged 30 and older during yearly health assessments. Personnel under 30 would be able to request screening. In a social-media video, Hegseth said the effort is intended to “optimize” performance, resilience, and long-term health, while also focusing on restoring and sustaining fighting capability and “longevity.” Medical experts, however, warn the approach could be an ethical and clinical “minefield.” The Endocrine Society said there is insufficient evidence to support population-level screening for hypogonadism in asymptomatic men. University of Washington Medical Center chief of medicine Bradley Anawalt criticized the initiative over concerns about unnecessary evaluations, misdiagnoses, and inappropriate testosterone prescriptions.