Hegseth: US troops will be screened for testosterone deficiency
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that troops over the age of 30 will be screened for testosterone deficiency, adding “the modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting … and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness”.
In a video post on social media platform X, Hegseth said: “By addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you (troops) on the leading edge of lethality … ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.”
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 reportedly blends known science on the hormones with broader, and less substantiated, claims.
Over the past years, several US operations troops — specifically Navy SEALs — have also come under scrutiny for their use of testosterone and similar substances to enhance performance.
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about what research or academic studies underpinned the move. It also didn’t say if female troops would be able to be evaluated for estrogen-based therapy as they entered perimenopause, according to AP.
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