Pentagon rescinds new testosterone screening policy without explanation
The Pentagon quietly pulled its controversial clinical guidance for mandatory testosterone screening of troops just one day after release, citing updates but offering no specifics. The policy, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July, faced sharp criticism from medical experts who called it medically questionable and potentially harmful. The Endocrine Society and American Urological Association do not support routine screening, and doctors warn of risks like cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer from testosterone therapy.
Taking testosterone is not going to make you more manly, more strong, or a more robust individual. That’s just not how it works.
- tyleo
I don’t know much about this except that I know perfectly normal or even jacked men with lower than expected testosterone. I suspect messing with hormones based on the results of a test and no actual problems can unnecessarily alter mood.
So my theory—based mostly on conjecture—is that these tests selected people they didn’t expect and the treatments would do more harm than good.
- bob1029
> “Taking testosterone is not going to make you more manly, more strong, or a more robust individual. That’s just not how it works,”
It will make you stronger. Perhaps not at certain therapeutic ranges, but there is a reason this would get you kicked out of the Olympic Games.
- ChiperSoft
I was very surprised the "we need more white babies" people were pushing a policy that lowers sperm count.
- blipvert
They realised that gender affirming care is something that they were against?
- fredley
Not that anyone needs any validation of how dumb this all is/was, but high testosterone levels don't necessarily mean you're going to be a burly muscly macho man. https://youtu.be/1162ouPHH3Q?si=ZAy5vo3loo0EfYbu&t=84
- ungreased0675
I was very curious what the results were going to show.
- taybin
I’m surprised that reading The Game hasn’t been added to the annual trainings for soldiers and DoD civilians.
- nabbed
Might be a temporary rescission, though:
'the Pentagon said that the document, titled “Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization,” had been temporarily rescinded on September 3 to allow for updates.'