Hegseth announces testosterone screening for U.S. troops
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has mandated annual testosterone screenings for military personnel aged 30 and older. The policy aims to improve troop health but has drawn criticism from Democrats who compare the initiative to the department's restrictive stance on gender-affirming care.
Why it matters
The policy change reflects a shift in military health priorities while sparking a broader political debate regarding the consistency of medical care policies for service members.
U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday mandatory annual testosterone screening for troops 30 years old or above, an initiative he said was aimed at combating testosterone deficiency that can undermine health.
Mr. Hegseth said the screening could lead to troops being offered testosterone replacement therapy aimed at “ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best”.
“Because it’s well-established science that as we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop,” he said in a video message. The screening would become part of annual testing for troops aged 30 and above, and troops could voluntarily decide whether to accept any recommended hormone replacement treatment if they were diagnosed with low testosterone levels. Troops below the age of 30 could request to be tested.
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