{
  "id": 8139724,
  "title": "Pentagon to proceed with controversial testosterone testing after pause",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-to-proceed-with-controversial-testosterone-testing-after-8139724",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-18T00:32:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/18/pentagon-to-proceed-with-controversial-testosterone-testing-after-pause"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pentagon has decided to resume mandatory testing for testosterone deficiency in US service members aged 30 and above, former Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell announced on Thursday. This decision reverses a temporary pause that was put in place in early September to allow for updates to the original policy. The programme, which was first introduced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July, aims to enhance military readiness by identifying and treating individuals with low testosterone levels.\n\nInitially, the testing covered both males and females, with women being screened via a questionnaire and subsequently receiving treatment for hormonal imbalance-related conditions. However, the scope of the testing has now been narrowed to focus solely on male testosterone deficiency.\n\nMedical experts have expressed concerns over the mandatory testing, warning that it could potentially lead to inappropriate prescription of testosterone, which may increase the risk of infertility and other health issues among service members. The specific details of any updates to the original policy have yet to be disclosed.",
  "summary": "Medical experts have described the mandatory deficiency testing among US service members aged 30 and older as unnecessary and potentially harmful.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Pentagon to proceed with controversial testosterone testing after pause",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-to-proceed-with-controversial-testosterone-testing-after",
        "published": "2026-09-18T00:32:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Pentagon issues new guidance for testosterone testing after rescinding previous one",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-issues-new-guidance-for-testosterone-testing-after",
        "published": "2026-09-18T01:40:45.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}