Hegseth wants a "High-T" military; doctors call it a clinical minefield

https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/07/hegseth-wants-a-high-t-military-doctors-call-it-a-clinical-minefield/

“This is a great big fat ‘Oh, no,’” Anawalt said in reaction to Hegseth’s announcement. “We’re turning the clock back on rational healthcare. … I’m worried about the ethics. I’m worried about the health consequences. I’m worried about unnecessary evaluations, incorrect assessments, and incorrect diagnoses that lead to inappropriate prescriptions of testosterone.”

428 points · 94 comments · view on lemmy.world

94 Comments

Z745812939054@lemmy.zip · 138 pts · 43d (17 replies)

nothing will put fear in your enemies like declaring your army needs more testosterone...

randompasta@lemmy.today · 72 pts · 43d (4 replies)

It just means that Hegseth really likes hanging out with manlier men...For reasons.

halfapage@lemmy.world · 55 pts · 43d (3 replies)
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frongt@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 43d (2 replies)

Wait, are you telling me the urinalysis guy wasn't supposed to do that?

halfapage@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 43d
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CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 43d

It wasn't exactly frowned upon

Blibly@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 43d (2 replies)

Clearly these men have convinced themselves that they aren't manly enough, whatever the fuck that means to these losers. Conservatives love inventing things to be scared about just throw it on the pile...

wirebeads@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Have you seen kegsbreath exercise? It’s legendary! It’s absolutely the reason he wants more military men to get loaded up on the T, so they can be just like him.

Blibly@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 43d

Nope. Can't stand looking at him. I'm immediately hit with the smell of cheap whiskey and drakkar noir. Eugh

bizarroland@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Nothing like giving your soldiers an insecurity that they're not manly enough and that they have to take a prescription for it.

I'm sure that won't have any psychological consequences on the battlefield.

Z745812939054@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 43d

yea.

the fucking stupidity and incompetence of everyone he appoints is mind boggling

there will be more suicides, and no one will do anything about it

heartSagan5@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 43d (3 replies)

And it’d be the most tantalizing target in the supply line, like the Jem Hadar’s “Ketracel White” (from ST:DS9). But why bother? I’ve had numerous Endocrinologists say no to me because they were of the opinion, it’d make my ball shrink.

PattyMcB@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 43d

Weren't they also eunochs?

WoodScientist@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 43d

But why bother? I’ve had numerous Endocrinologists say no to me because they were of the opinion, it’d make my ball shrink.

Obviously you should take large doses of estrogen to make them bigger!

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 43d

Taking them out will be so easy. Just get darts for those massive balls, and play Bloons Tower Defense in real life.

atrielienz@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 43d (2 replies)

I am suddenly reminded of The Longest Yard movie where they gave the guards a bunch of estrogen.

WorldsDumbestMan@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 43d (1 reply)

What would estrogen do to a cis male I wonder.

frongt@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 42d

Same thing it does to a trans woman.

aramis87@fedia.io · 108 pts · 43d (5 replies)

Funny how they're suddenly fine with gender-affirming care ...

Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 91 pts · 43d (4 replies)

Quoting myself so I don’t have to keep rewriting it:

This isn’t gender affirming care, it’s gender coercive care. Forcing people without symptoms to get a test for low testosterone is clearly pressuring people to “fix” their T levels, regardless of whether that makes sense for them. If it was about health they’d let their doctors address it on an as needed basis.

lime@feddit.nu · 35 pts · 43d (1 reply)

conversion therapy but they're converting people into himbos

mushroommunk@lemmy.today · 44 pts · 43d

Himbos are lovable. They're converting them into blind rage machines like themselves

BillyClark@piefed.social · 21 pts · 43d

Yeah, it's that thing that conservative media and politicians have been lying about. Saying that children go to school one gender and are forced to change their gender. So that's a lie. It never happened. But now, conservatives are doing the exact thing that they were so concerned about before.

What is it that they say, every accusation is a confession?

BigPotato@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 42d

Are they gonna have a random piss test for it or can a soldier just pop a Total-T the day before their annual eval and pass with flying colors?

kyub@discuss.tchncs.de · 83 pts · 43d (1 reply)

An over-fixation on "manliness" and "heroism" in the military is also standard fascism playbook. Everyone's made up to be a hero for their country, no matter if true or not. This sort of propaganda-fueled glorification of soldiers and war maybe helps recruitment of future soldiers for whatever future war the fascists are going to start. That's probably the only upside.

frongt@lemmy.zip · 23 pts · 43d

It also lets you shout down any criticism with "that man is a HERO how DARE you accuse him of anything"

PattyMcB@lemmy.world · 55 pts · 43d

Just wait. In another 10 years (if we're still around by then), the VA will be ignoring a ton of testicular cancer cases in veterans.

matlag@sh.itjust.works · 48 pts · 43d (4 replies)

I don't give them a year before ranks are determined by balls size and weigh.

SabinStargem@lemmy.today · 26 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Closeted tanuki furries are destined to obtain the highest of ranks.

flango@lemmy.eco.br · 4 pts · 43d

Damn bro

Kirp123@lemmy.world · 23 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Exogenous testosterone usually leads to balls shrinking.

matlag@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 42d

There are going to be excruciating decisions for military personel in the years to come...

My_IFAKs___gone@lemmy.world · 45 pts · 43d (8 replies)

In 4 months they'll be indiscriminately issuing amphetamine stims to service members. I mean, it worked for the SS. Probably. At least for a little while. Actually, I have no idea, but it seems like something Keitel and Goering would be all about to claim they had a chemical edge over all the subhumans occupying their lebensraum.

heartSagan5@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 43d (3 replies)

Those stims were amphetamines, and they were given to soldiers to be prepared for those Blitzes. It also stunted their humanity and made them literal monsters.

JoeBigelow@lemmy.ca · 7 pts · 43d (2 replies)

Pervitin was actually methamphetamine!

somethingsnappy@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Ah, short for pervert vitamin. Makes more sense now.

turtlesareneat@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 43d

It's true tho - ex meth addict

Duamerthrax@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 43d

The US military never stopped using amphetamines. Honestly, the list of militaries that don't use the stuff is probably shorter then the list that does. The job isn't exactly conducive to their health in the first place.

I remember an uproar about this topic in the 90's, but it never stopped. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240314-the-drug-pilots-take-to-stay-awake

golinux@fedia.io · 3 pts · 43d (2 replies)
GreyEyedGhost@piefed.ca · 7 pts · 43d (1 reply)

You could have just posted a video of Hitler tweaking.

thesohoriots@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 43d

Or twerking

Lydon_Feen@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 43d (4 replies)

What this is, is another ridiculous ploy by Beta-cuck Hegseth to have homo-erotic fantasies about his big burly, tough macho men in tight uniforms.

Just get drunk again, Pete, and come out already!

ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 43d (3 replies)

Seriously, how do we let them know we know and it's okay? Holy shit.

Inucune@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 43d (2 replies)

You can't, because of the level of cognitive dissonance coming out has with the maga agenda. He's so deep in the closet you'd have to make a stop in Narnia for gas and a map to get there.

undrwater@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 43d

Don't forget the snacks.

Lydon_Feen@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 42d

And thanks to his ogre of a boss, gas is pretty expensive right now, so...

Wait... Maybe that was the plan all along! To make it hard for Hegseth to come out!

tacosanonymous@mander.xyz · 36 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Ah yes, I served in the bacne and rage unit.

IPeaceInYourFace@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 43d

They're not expecting anybody to live long enough to be able to say that.

grte@lemmy.ca · 28 pts · 43d (2 replies)

The troops are not hot and sexy enough for King Don. He wants troops like in Starship Troopers, except maybe a few years younger.

decolo@piefed.social · 10 pts · 43d (1 reply)

child soldiers it is!

PattyMcB@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 43d

Trump did his part (the children, not the actual service)

Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 43d (3 replies)

The same "germs aren't real" Hegseth who caused a flu outbreak on a military base by reversing the vaccination mandate for service members.

QueenHawlSera@piefed.social · 5 pts · 43d (2 replies)

Wait he doesn't believe in germs?

Blue_Morpho@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 42d

Nope. Said he hadn't washed his hands in 10 years.

CatGPT@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 2 pts · 42d

He doesn’t believe in bacteria or viruses. Batshit crazy

Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus · 25 pts · 43d (4 replies)

9FuMx3dw5WZJ9sp.webp

heartSagan5@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 43d

This seems more plausible by the day

p03locke@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Which movie is this from?

Wildmimic@anarchist.nexus · 10 pts · 43d

Star Trek TNG, S01E01 – Q accuses humanity of still being as barbarous as they were in the time where they drugged up their Soldiers.

Edit:

OtakuAllTheWay@sh.itjust.works · 1 pts · 42d

frongt@lemmy.zip · 25 pts · 43d (2 replies)

High testosterone in men is associated with male pattern baldness and low sperm count, among other conditions. Not sure why he'd want that, but ok.

medicsofanarchy@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 43d

It's because all the men he stares at in the gym tell him they're taking it. /edit: sentence structure

CatGPT@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 8 pts · 43d

Well you see with these chuds it’s always the woman's fault. She’s barren

Blackmist@feddit.uk · 24 pts · 43d (1 reply)

It's that... Gender affirming care?

psud@aussie.zone · 5 pts · 42d

It's closer to gender and health wrecker so it's probably in line with Trump policy, except that it reduces fertility

bstix@feddit.dk · 22 pts · 43d

They have 2 reasons to do this:

  1. To drug the soldiers.
  2. To put the blame of failure on individuals.

The purpose is to have an army of cannon fodder when they take on NATO and to push through the inevitable failure when doing so.

bunnybunny@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 42d (2 replies)

Man you Americans really are dumb as shit to vote for this in november.

SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 42d

For the third time! There is like a 90% chance.

BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 42d

We like our fads

Iusedtobeanalien@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 43d

He's a complete moron that wants to run the military like he is in a cheap 80s B-Movie

DarkCloud@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 43d (7 replies)

Testosterone can lead to less impulse control, bad idea for people with guns.

Signtist@bookwyr.me · 17 pts · 43d (6 replies)

Good idea for a country that specifically gave those people guns and trained them to shoot people without thinking too hard about it. They'll want it for the police soon, too.

atrielienz@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 43d (3 replies)

That's not really how it works in the military. They don't just let you shoot things indiscriminately like they do in the police force.

OwOarchist@pawb.social · 3 pts · 43d

They don’t just let you shoot things indiscriminately

Not yet.

turtlesareneat@piefed.ca · 2 pts · 43d (1 reply)

Or in a hospital or daycare or grocery store

atrielienz@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 42d

Again, I was not talking about police. Not even talking about like... The National Guard.

DarkCloud@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 43d (1 reply)

American as gun play and police shootings.

Signtist@bookwyr.me · 5 pts · 43d

True, but they're not trying to win wars, they're trying to look powerful in the eyes of their voters, who definitely think aggressive roided-out soldiers with itchy trigger fingers are powerful.

baggachipz@sh.itjust.works · 16 pts · 43d (3 replies)

Hilariously, F2Ms will pass his test for “manliness”.

dontpanic@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 43d (2 replies)

Nah the ftms know better because when your T is too high the excess actually gets converted into estrogen via aromatization. It’s one of the causes of gynecomastia. The goal is just to be within the normal range.

baggachipz@sh.itjust.works · -2 pts · 43d (1 reply)

And if it’s in the normal range they’ll pass the “test”. Thanks for agreeing with me.

notabot@piefed.social · 5 pts · 43d

That assumes some base level of sense. It seems more likely that the "passing grade" will be far too high, and almost all soldiers will be forced to dose themselves with excessive amounts of T.

okamiueru@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 42d (1 reply)

Is this science news? I'm not asking to be nice. News from USA is such a shitfest, and it sucks when it spreads.

AlteredEgo@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 42d

I'd be curious about science if even adversarial memes help spread the lambasted meme. It seems like "calling out this insane nonsense" helps the insane nonsense to actually spread.

But until we have hard scientific evidence for this, moderation couldn't possibly

Lodespawn@aussie.zone · 11 pts · 43d (1 reply)

So can we assume Hegseth has low test, has started having TRT and now thinks everyone needs it?

vala@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 5 pts · 43d

Yes

dizzle18@lemmy.zip · 10 pts · 42d (1 reply)

Pete wants rock hard cocks from sea to shining sea. Glistening, veiny, throbbing, and FULLY erect. Give Pete bricked up dicks, or give him death. It's super fucking hetero, godammit. He's totally into tits and pussy, but he wants those giant, stiff peckers at full fucking mast. AMERICA.

epicshepich@programming.dev · 2 pts · 42d

This reads like an emojipasta without the emojis.

mechoman444@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 42d (1 reply)

What the hell does testosterone have to do with anything? It's a hormone, just like any other in the human body. Both men and women produce it. It needs to stay within a healthy range for the body to function properly. Too much is harmful, just as too little is.

architect@thelemmy.club · 9 pts · 42d

MORE MANLY MAN MEN

spittingimage@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 42d

Hegseth is one of those guys who has to work his fetishes into everything.

My_IFAKs___gone@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 43d

100% disability rating for ultra-low T unlocked.

thebasementcakes@leminal.space · 4 pts · 43d

High T low morals military

SGGeorwell@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 43d

If we know anything about militaries, we know they fear “gaps.” Are they trying to close a doping gap with other militaries? Or to preempt one?

m3t00@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 42d

crime ring full of mental basket cases.

Hueristic_Autistic@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 42d
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IAMgROOT@lemmy.wtf · 1 pts · 37d

more testosterone = turn into estrogen....