JAMA Study: Mandatory Testosterone Screening Could Flag Up to 25 Percent of Army
A JAMA study estimates up to a quarter of active-duty Army members could receive a low testosterone result from mandatory screening announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, though the condition's true prevalence is likely far lower. Experts warn the screenings may lead to unnecessary evaluations and harm.
Ars Technica reported that the JAMA study found the screening could flag as many as 25 percent of active-duty Army members. That figure contrasts with the likely true prevalence of low testosterone, which the study suggests is far smaller. The study also highlights why testosterone levels are not measured in men without symptoms and offers a glimpse of how many Army members could become ensnared in the clinically dubious screenings.
The concerns center on what follows a low result. According to the report, those evaluations could result in inappropriate testing, inaccurate results and diagnoses, and overtreatment that could cause harm, including infertility. Medical experts, including the Endocrine Society and the American Urological Association, have recommended against blanket screenings for these reasons.
Despite that opposition, the Pentagon has moved forward with the plans. It released clinical guidance in September. The mandatory screening requirement was announced by Hegseth in July.
The JAMA study was published Thursday. Its estimate that up to a quarter of active-duty Army members could receive a low testosterone result is far above the likely true prevalence of the condition, the report said. The finding adds to existing concerns among medical experts that broad screening without symptoms can lead to unnecessary medical interventions and potential harm.