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But while Khera supports screening, he said he worries about inappropriate use of TRT.
“I wouldn’t treat someone with TRT if they weren’t symptomatic” or had normal testosterone levels, says Khera, who helped publish seminal research on TRT and in 2025 led a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on the treatment. “They would be stuck on it for life, so you want it to be done properly.” .
“I’m not in the business of optimization,” he adds. “I don’t believe in taking someone who is normal to super-normal. I believe in helping someone who is truly low and has symptoms.”
time.com
Testosterone is an essential hormone which, in men, is produced primarily in the testicles and helps regulate sex drive, sperm production, bone density, and muscle mass. Most men experience a gradual decline in testosterone starting in their late 30s or early 40s.
But medical guidelines don’t recommend testing testosterone levels unless a man has signs or symptoms that suggest a deficiency, such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and anemia, or has a high-risk medical condition that can cause low testosterone such as HIV.
“It’s not recommended by the American Urological Association or the Endocrine Society to routinely screen people,” says Dr. Ajay Nangia, professor of urology at the University of Kansas Health System. Primary care doctors do not routinely test men's testosterone levels. “The recommendation by Mr. Hegseth goes against these guidelines.”
But some doctors say that screening all men over age 30, including those without symptoms, could provide important health insights.
“There is no better marker for overall health for men than testosterone,” says Dr. Mohit Khera, professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine. “Men with low testosterone are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, obesity, and depression. It is not just about sex.”
Low testosterone is often a signal that something is amiss in the body, says Khera. “Low T is like having the check engine light on. Maybe you’re stressed or having poor sleep or had a recent illness.” In some cases, the cause could be a disease such as cancer or a pituitary disorder.
People in the military are at increased risk of low testosterone because of the stress and rigors of the job, says Khera. Low testosterone is a common feature of Operator Syndrome, a medical phenomenon characterizing the unique stresses of being in the military, which doctors are now seeking to understand.
Testing testosterone levels at a younger age could provide someone with a baseline number to which they could compare as they grow older, Khera says. The bigger the drop in testosterone over time, the more pronounced the negative effects, he says.
But while Khera supports screening, he said he worries about inappropriate use of TRT.
“I wouldn’t treat someone with TRT if they weren’t symptomatic” or had normal testosterone levels, says Khera, who helped publish seminal research on TRT and in 2025 led a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on the treatment. “They would be stuck on it for life, so you want it to be done properly.” .
“I’m not in the business of optimization,” he adds. “I don’t believe in taking someone who is normal to super-normal. I believe in helping someone who is truly low and has symptoms.”
“I wouldn’t treat someone with TRT if they weren’t symptomatic” or had normal testosterone levels, says Khera, who helped publish seminal research on TRT and in 2025 led a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on the treatment. “They would be stuck on it for life, so you want it to be done properly.” .
“I’m not in the business of optimization,” he adds. “I don’t believe in taking someone who is normal to super-normal. I believe in helping someone who is truly low and has symptoms.”
What Urologists Think of the Military’s New Testosterone Testing Policy
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the screenings will boost the military’s readiness and resilience, but doctors express caution.
time.com
Testosterone is an essential hormone which, in men, is produced primarily in the testicles and helps regulate sex drive, sperm production, bone density, and muscle mass. Most men experience a gradual decline in testosterone starting in their late 30s or early 40s.
But medical guidelines don’t recommend testing testosterone levels unless a man has signs or symptoms that suggest a deficiency, such as low libido, erectile dysfunction, and anemia, or has a high-risk medical condition that can cause low testosterone such as HIV.
“It’s not recommended by the American Urological Association or the Endocrine Society to routinely screen people,” says Dr. Ajay Nangia, professor of urology at the University of Kansas Health System. Primary care doctors do not routinely test men's testosterone levels. “The recommendation by Mr. Hegseth goes against these guidelines.”
But some doctors say that screening all men over age 30, including those without symptoms, could provide important health insights.
“There is no better marker for overall health for men than testosterone,” says Dr. Mohit Khera, professor of urology at Baylor College of Medicine. “Men with low testosterone are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes, diabetes, obesity, and depression. It is not just about sex.”
Low testosterone is often a signal that something is amiss in the body, says Khera. “Low T is like having the check engine light on. Maybe you’re stressed or having poor sleep or had a recent illness.” In some cases, the cause could be a disease such as cancer or a pituitary disorder.
People in the military are at increased risk of low testosterone because of the stress and rigors of the job, says Khera. Low testosterone is a common feature of Operator Syndrome, a medical phenomenon characterizing the unique stresses of being in the military, which doctors are now seeking to understand.
Testing testosterone levels at a younger age could provide someone with a baseline number to which they could compare as they grow older, Khera says. The bigger the drop in testosterone over time, the more pronounced the negative effects, he says.
But while Khera supports screening, he said he worries about inappropriate use of TRT.
“I wouldn’t treat someone with TRT if they weren’t symptomatic” or had normal testosterone levels, says Khera, who helped publish seminal research on TRT and in 2025 led a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert panel on the treatment. “They would be stuck on it for life, so you want it to be done properly.” .
“I’m not in the business of optimization,” he adds. “I don’t believe in taking someone who is normal to super-normal. I believe in helping someone who is truly low and has symptoms.”
