U.S. Military to Test Troops' Testosterone Levels; Therapy Risks and Benefits Examined
The U.S. military, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, announced plans to test service members' testosterone levels and offer replacement therapy to those who qualify, aiming to optimize troop performance. This initiative aligns with a broader Trump administration push to expand access to testosterone therapies, promoted by figures like HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Testosterone replacement therapy prescriptions have surged from 7.3 million in 2019 to over 11 million in 2024, driven by men's health clinics and online influencers. However, medical experts caution that up to a third of users lack a formal diagnosis of hypogonadism, the condition the therapy is intended for. While benefits include improved bone density and muscle mass for qualified patients, long-term risks remain unclear, and excess testosterone can reduce sperm production. Physicians stress that a single blood test is insufficient for diagnosis and that the therapy is not a solution for normal aging or low energy.
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