Hegseth wants a more macho military. Testosterone shots won’t help.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Pentagon would begin testing the testosterone levels of all military members over the age of 30 as part of their regular, annual physical exams. If their levels are low, service members could choose to receive testosterone…
Intelligence analysis by Llama
Pete Hegseth wants the US military tested for low testosterone levels, but experts say there's insufficient evidence to support widespread testing and supplementation. The Endocrine Society notes that previous research suggests testosterone is already overprescribed in the US, and low T can be a sign of other chronic health conditions.
Imagine you're a soldier, and your body is like a machine. Testosterone is like a special fuel that helps your machine work well. But sometimes, as people get older, their bodies make less of this fuel. The Pentagon is now testing soldiers' testosterone levels to see if they need more fuel. But some experts think this might not be the best idea, because it's not clear if giving people more testosterone will really help them be better soldiers.
Analysis
A $60B Vote of Confidence
The Pentagon's decision to test the testosterone levels of all military members over the age of 30 is the latest example of the performative masculinity that has defined Pete Hegseth's time atop the US military. Hegseth has sought to rebrand the Department of Defense as the Department of 'War,' preached a 'warrior' ethos, rolled back DEI initiatives while blocking promotions for women, and taken an unusual interest in the beard-grooming standards of service members.
The testosterone obsession is just one of several ways that the military is having a Make America Healthy Again movement. Hegseth announced over the spring that service members would no longer be required to get an annual flu vaccine. (The military later reinstated the mandate for new recruits, after a major flu outbreak at a boot camp.) And also this week, he launched a new investigation into the Defense Department's decision in 2021 to mandate the Covid-19 vaccine — shades of the efforts being made by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Why Cursor?
So, is getting more people to take supplemental testosterone actually a good idea? Should everybody be screened, as Hegseth is suggesting for service members over 30? The Endocrine Society said in a statement after Hegseth's announcement that there was 'insufficient evidence' to support testosterone-level screening for asymptomatic Americans. Previous research suggests that, if anything, testosterone is already overprescribed in the US; only 12 percent of men receiving a prescription had received appropriate diagnostic testing.
The Road Ahead
The evidence is mixed on how much taking T actually improves things like mood, energy, sexual performance — or military effectiveness — and taking too much testosterone could come with its own health risks. The dialogue around T supplements is still evolving. Doctors used to worry that extra testosterone could cause cardiovascular problems, but more recent research has allayed those fears, leading proponents in the Trump administration to call for more prescribing. But the evidence right now does not appear to support the widespread T testing and supplementation that the military's new program would suggest.
Key points
- The Pentagon will begin testing the testosterone levels of all military members over the age of 30 as part of their regular, annual physical exams.
- Service members with low testosterone levels may be eligible to receive testosterone replacement therapy.
- The Endocrine Society has expressed concerns about the lack of evidence supporting widespread testosterone testing and supplementation.
- Previous research suggests that testosterone is already overprescribed in the US, and low T can be a sign of other chronic health conditions.
If the Pentagon's testosterone testing program is implemented, it could lead to better health outcomes for service members. However, it's essential to ensure that the program is evidence-based and doesn't lead to overprescription of testosterone supplements.
The Pentagon's testosterone testing program could lead to overprescription of testosterone supplements, which could have negative health consequences for service members. Additionally, the program may not address the underlying causes of declining testosterone levels among men.
