Up to a Quarter of the Army Could Get a Low Testosterone Result From Screening
Up to a quarter of active-duty Army members could receive a low testosterone result from mandatory military screening, even though the true prevalence of the condition is likely a tiny fraction of that figure, according to a study published Thursday in JAMA. The finding adds to concerns that the mandatory screening announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July will produce a cascade of unnecessary medical evaluations.
AI-generated discussion · Different perspectives
A test that returns a low result for up to a quarter of the force, when the condition itself is rare in that group, is mostly a measure of follow-up work rather than of disease.
The distinction that matters is between getting a result and getting a diagnosis. The worry being raised is about the evaluations in between, not about a quarter of the Army actually having the condition.