Hegseth Is Pushing Testosterone. The VA Has Already Struggled With the Treatment.
Secretary Pete Hegseth has proposed annual testosterone screening for service members aged 30 and older, with optional screening for younger troops. Critics warn that the initiative could lead to overprescription, fertility reductions, and long‑term dependency on hormone therapy. The Department of Veterans Affairs has previously struggled with managing testosterone treatment, raising concerns about continuity of care for veterans.
- ▪The proposal calls for routine testosterone tests for service members 30 and older regardless of symptoms.
- ▪Medical experts say testosterone therapy can suppress natural hormone production and reduce sperm counts, creating dependency.
- ▪A 2018 VA Inspector General review found many patients started on testosterone without documented symptoms or proper follow‑up.
- ▪Guidelines require repeated low testosterone readings and clinical symptoms before treatment, which the VA has often failed to meet.
The Intercept files mainly under politics. We currently carry 50 of its stories.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Hegseth Is Pushing Testosterone. The VA Has Already Struggled With the Treatment. “Men who take testosterone will have a reduction in their sperm counts,” one medical professor said. There’s no stated plan for continuing care. Austin Campbell July 24 2026, 10:25 a.m. ET Share Copy link Share on Facebook Share on Bluesky Share on X Share on LinkedIn Share on WhatsApp Pete Hegseth during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C., on July 21, 2026. Photo: Tierney L.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Intercept.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from The Intercept
