Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a new screening program for testosterone deficiency among US military troops. The program aims to identify and treat low testosterone levels in service members, which can impact their performance and overall health.
Screening Program Details
The screenings will be conducted annually as part of service members’ required medical screenings for those 30 and older. Troops under 30 can volunteer to be tested. Receiving testosterone replacement therapy will be voluntary.
The move comes as other Trump administration officials have begun to advocate for men to have easier access to testosterone replacement therapies. However, the messaging from Hegseth and others blends known science on the hormone with broader, and less substantiated, claims.
Some lawmakers have raised concerns about the new policy, with Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran, saying it sounds like ‘gender-affirming care’ and calling for hormone testing to be available for both men and women.
The Pentagon has not responded to questions about what research or academic studies underpin the move, or whether female troops will be able to be evaluated for estrogen-based therapy as they enter perimenopause.
Original reporting: NBC Connecticut (Hartford) — read the source article.
