Hegseth’s dubious low-T screening may flag up to 25 percent of the Army

Up to a quarter of active-duty Army members may be flagged with low testosterone following mandatory screening, according to a study published in JAMA. However, the actual prevalence of the condition is likely much lower, suggesting that the screening could lead to a significant number of unnecessary evaluations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the screening in July, prompting the Pentagon to release clinical guidance in September.

Medical experts, including the Endocrine Society and the American Urological Association, have previously advised against blanket screenings due to the potential for inappropriate testing, inaccurate results, and overtreatment. This could result in negative consequences such as infertility.