The US defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, this week ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older, which he says will help to maintain military readiness.
But many medical professionals warn it might do nothing of the sort and instead could increase service members’ risk of infertility or other consequences if testosterone is prescribed inappropriately.
The mandate is one of several recent healthcare policy changes implemented by Hegseth and other Trump administration cabinet officials that have sparked debate among experts and raised questions about what scientific basis, if any, supports them.
Hegseth has also reversed the military’s longstanding
Our editorial team includes several staff writers, each contributing their specialized knowledge to enhance the depth and breadth of our event and story coverage.