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31j20b3

(310 posts)
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:30 PM 11 hrs ago

Hegseth calls for testosterone testing of US troops

Really.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday announced a new effort to annually screen service members’ testosterone levels and offer testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), framing it as a way to keep troops on the “leading edge of lethality.”

The screening, added as part of war fighters’ periodic health assessment, will affect troops age 30 and older, though those under 30 can voluntarily choose to get the test,

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5969935-hegseth-testosterone-testing-dod/



Wow as if we haven't learned our lessons from ICE agents pumping 'roids'

90 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Hegseth calls for testosterone testing of US troops (Original Post) 31j20b3 11 hrs ago OP
I was really hoping this was the Onion. Coventina 11 hrs ago #1
So was I. Lochloosa 11 hrs ago #2
I know. You'd think it was a joke. Ritabert 11 hrs ago #3
That was my exact thought. OMFG! yellow dahlia 11 hrs ago #12
I wonder how much he takes. vanlassie 11 hrs ago #4
That could explain a lot... buzzycrumbhunger 10 hrs ago #30
I have the feeling that he takes more than you're supposed to. kerry-is-my-prez 10 hrs ago #48
He needs to over ride his popsdenver 8 hrs ago #72
Women too? LearnedHand 11 hrs ago #5
You beat me to it!! Coventina 11 hrs ago #9
He'll have gotten rid of all of them, soon. CrispyQ 11 hrs ago #18
JFC orangecrush 11 hrs ago #6
How's about testing US military leadership for 'Daddy Issues'? Seinan Sensei 11 hrs ago #7
I see from what's quoted, that it doesn't mention biological sex of the troops. Coventina 11 hrs ago #8
Kind of makes me think mountain grammy 9 hrs ago #65
You bring up a great point. He's already stopped promoting women. Coventina 9 hrs ago #68
'Roid heads always feel threatened by "Nerds". haele 11 hrs ago #10
What does this mean for Women serving in the military? 31j20b3 11 hrs ago #11
When I first read the headline I immediately thought the Pentagon was drug testing troops for anabolic steroid use. sop 11 hrs ago #13
Sadly that is so so how it seems. 31j20b3 11 hrs ago #14
Yep, and I thought, You're first in line! Let's see your steroid levels MerryBlooms 11 hrs ago #22
So, to be clear, gender affirming care in the military? mr715 11 hrs ago #15
From what is in the article all I can say is MAYBE 31j20b3 11 hrs ago #17
Roid rage, incoming pfitz59 11 hrs ago #16
I wonder what the Geneva Conventions say about this sort of thing? 31j20b3 11 hrs ago #19
100% insane! LymphocyteLover 8 hrs ago #74
"Lethality". Hegseth is a sicko BlueWaveNeverEnd 11 hrs ago #20
Cruising down the Reflecting Pool some_of_us_are_sane 10 hrs ago #26
Why don't we just build an army of lethal robots? Boomerproud 10 hrs ago #34
Pete would ask for an exorbitant amount of money to make sure "manly" cyber equipment was installed. jls4561 9 hrs ago #53
"Man-Babies" always need to be "affirmed"... some_of_us_are_sane 9 hrs ago #62
That's his next step. WestMichRad 8 hrs ago #71
What an insecure man. Baitball Blogger 11 hrs ago #21
I have it on good authority the thief is a high level politician in the GOP... mr715 10 hrs ago #50
everything is gender WhiskeyGrinder 11 hrs ago #23
and just as true, everything comes with liability 31j20b3 11 hrs ago #24
So, just a casual glance at what some risks odins folly 10 hrs ago #25
Hegseth has a much sicker view of service personnel than Dick Cheney 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #28
And they cried like babies because "Biden made them take the clot shot" Walleye 10 hrs ago #33
Let him lead the forces into battle at the front. The Madcap 10 hrs ago #27
I'm doubting there is a field commander who would let Maj. Hegseth lead troops in battle 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #29
If he were to go, The Madcap 10 hrs ago #47
Warriors never fight as soldiers in an Army, they fight as lone Warriors 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #49
Hegseth Katcat 9 hrs ago #54
Will there be a meter scale determining what % of testosterone qualifies................ Lovie777 10 hrs ago #31
Has he heard of drones? They don't require muscle. Walleye 10 hrs ago #32
Perhaps he wants RAGE not muscle. This is what comes 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #36
Will he also be checking durablend 10 hrs ago #35
Sounds like the incidences of rape will go up ga_girl 10 hrs ago #37
Well, all sorts of violent violations of the UCMJ I think 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #40
Is he testing for too much or not enough? Wounded Bear 10 hrs ago #38
He's not big on strategy, tactics, logistics, psychological warfare, signals intelligence, &c &c? struggle4progress 10 hrs ago #39
The word "Nazis" is repeatedly in the chorus and scattered elsewhere fargone 8 hrs ago #85
I think closed captioning must not pay well, because such errors are extraordinarily common struggle4progress 6 hrs ago #88
Idiocracy spanone 10 hrs ago #41
At a minimum, idiocracy 31j20b3 10 hrs ago #42
Republicans are nuts who have convinced themselves that testosterone is the end-all be-all of manhood. This obsession Karasu 10 hrs ago #43
'Literally Gender Affirming Care': Hegseth Mocked for Plan to Offer US Soldiers Testosterone sop 10 hrs ago #44
Says the man taking "Chad" supplements MineralMan 10 hrs ago #45
Send your daughter to the military mercuryblues 10 hrs ago #46
A test case for society in the broad sense bucolic_frolic 9 hrs ago #51
Next up, Penta-gone cra-cra creates new Christian hymn for troops: "Onward Christian Soldiers with Great Balls of Fire!" RedWhiteBlueIsRacist 9 hrs ago #52
I guess our tax dollars are going to be paying for a lot of testicle tanning. tanyev 9 hrs ago #55
Why risk skin cancer on the testicles when the military will pay for injections? 31j20b3 9 hrs ago #63
Tucker Carlson was pushing it for a while. tanyev 9 hrs ago #70
Uh, prostate cancer feeds on testosterone... surfered 9 hrs ago #56
But it doesn't cause prostate cancer NickB79 6 hrs ago #87
Agreed. My point was just what else Mayo said... surfered 6 hrs ago #89
🙏 surfered 2 hrs ago #90
..... yardwork 9 hrs ago #57
How absolutely moronic. sinkingfeeling 9 hrs ago #58
Will they report on those w/ low testosterone that perform well in battle, etc vs those who test high & perform poorly? chowder66 9 hrs ago #59
I don't think this is going to be a research project 31j20b3 9 hrs ago #61
That pretty much takes care of any remaining women, then? Ocelot II 9 hrs ago #60
This man needs help. NCDem47 9 hrs ago #64
Incel. MineralMan 8 hrs ago #76
Maybe we should feel sorry for the women in relationships with those men. Two of allegorical oracle 9 hrs ago #66
The upper echelons of the Trump leadership need to be tested. Zelda_Orchid 9 hrs ago #67
War fighters? rationalcalgarian 9 hrs ago #69
He's been using that phrase for many months now 31j20b3 8 hrs ago #75
A large majority never sees combat. MineralMan 8 hrs ago #78
so hes in favor of gender affirming care..... moonshinegnomie 8 hrs ago #73
You want to see lethality - why doesn't he start sending out meth in the MREs. flashman13 8 hrs ago #77
From "Alice's Restaurant" MineralMan 8 hrs ago #81
There was a time Barry Goldwater was ultra conservative EnergizedLib 8 hrs ago #79
Yep. Mandatory vaccines are a no-go SpankMe 8 hrs ago #80
That was my first thought, that he's taking way too much of the T too, being so 'macho' and such, and tattooed w/ SWBTATTReg 8 hrs ago #82
What could possibly go wrong with this idea, no, I mean literally /medically speaking? blue_jay 8 hrs ago #83
Hegseth needs to be gelded and put to pasture for PufPuf23 8 hrs ago #84
It's so all the male troops will have manboobs like Orange Fuhrer. flvegan 7 hrs ago #86

vanlassie

(6,316 posts)
4. I wonder how much he takes.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:34 PM
11 hrs ago

Last edited Wed Jul 15, 2026, 06:53 PM - Edit history (1)

In order to be such an asshole?

buzzycrumbhunger

(2,563 posts)
30. That could explain a lot...
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:19 PM
10 hrs ago

Then again, I suspect he was an arsehole even as a child. *eyeroll*

popsdenver

(2,943 posts)
72. He needs to over ride his
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:17 PM
8 hrs ago

estrogen, then worry about other shit........

Everyone of Trump's CABAL suffers from TWPC.......Teenie Weenie Penie Complex......or as they used to call it:
NAPOLEAN COMPLEX or LITTLE MAN COMPLEX.......

Coventina

(30,174 posts)
8. I see from what's quoted, that it doesn't mention biological sex of the troops.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:35 PM
11 hrs ago

So presumably ALL the women will be getting T after 30?

I thought Whiskey Pete was AGAINST such things?

mountain grammy

(29,448 posts)
65. Kind of makes me think
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:57 PM
9 hrs ago

they don't expect women to be serving after 30...these guys are real zealots,

Coventina

(30,174 posts)
68. You bring up a great point. He's already stopped promoting women.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:00 PM
9 hrs ago

How long before women are barred from serving entirely?

haele

(15,769 posts)
10. 'Roid heads always feel threatened by "Nerds".
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:38 PM
11 hrs ago

'Roid heads only feel comfortable around other 'Roid heads or with nasty winmin haters. Thoughtful people scare them, they feel cooperation, strategy, diplomacy, long term assessments, or risk considerations are for sissies and cowards, not "Real Men".

Anyway, I thought Gender affirming care was "Woke".


31j20b3

(310 posts)
11. What does this mean for Women serving in the military?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:42 PM
11 hrs ago

Will they be able to get testosterone injections if they volunteer for screening and are found to be deficient compared to "manly men"?
Just asking.

I think Hegseth is an idiot.

Gen. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan never had such tests.
I'm not aware of Sgt York or Audie Murphy having been given such.

I am aware that the Nazi's during WWII and the US airforce later, made bennies available to their troops to make sure they were pumped up as WAR FIGHTERS

What could go wrong??? This could be a worse medical cost burden on the Pentagon and the Dept of Veterans' Affairs than AGENT ORANGE

YOu served and you have testicular cancer? Or Prostrate Cancer? Well veteran, you;ve got a presumed exposure to dosing of testosterone. which elevated your risks of many cancers...

It's just inhumane for the military to think it can produce super-soldiers through better medicine from AbbVie Inc.

sop

(20,202 posts)
13. When I first read the headline I immediately thought the Pentagon was drug testing troops for anabolic steroid use.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:46 PM
11 hrs ago

Nope, I was wrong, that would make too much sense, silly me. Instead, Hegseth wants a bunch of juiced-up roid raging warriors.

31j20b3

(310 posts)
14. Sadly that is so so how it seems.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:49 PM
11 hrs ago

Hegseth is an immoral leader willing to subject the men and women in his commands to uncalled for exposures

MerryBlooms

(12,702 posts)
22. Yep, and I thought, You're first in line! Let's see your steroid levels
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:59 PM
11 hrs ago

How about paying a decent wage to our service people, first!?! Not fighting our Veterans at every stage for their damages caused by US government!?! How about not starting more illegal wars?

So many other issues this pos should be concerned with.

31j20b3

(310 posts)
19. I wonder what the Geneva Conventions say about this sort of thing?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:56 PM
11 hrs ago

Is pumping guys up on methamphetamemes on the to-do list?

some_of_us_are_sane

(3,986 posts)
26. Cruising down the Reflecting Pool
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:11 PM
10 hrs ago
"Drunken Pete" back on the sauce and on his way to get his JUMBO TESTOSTERONE fix!

Boomerproud

(9,445 posts)
34. Why don't we just build an army of lethal robots?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:26 PM
10 hrs ago

No worry about any emotional problems about what war does to people. Wouldn't have to thank them for their service either.

jls4561

(3,368 posts)
53. Pete would ask for an exorbitant amount of money to make sure "manly" cyber equipment was installed.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:32 PM
9 hrs ago

Then he’d get cyber penis envy because his didn’t measure up.

some_of_us_are_sane

(3,986 posts)
62. "Man-Babies" always need to be "affirmed"...
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:51 PM
9 hrs ago
to be..................................................."firm".

Baitball Blogger

(53,026 posts)
21. What an insecure man.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 02:58 PM
11 hrs ago

Maybe he should ask the FBI to start an investigation to find out who stole his manhood?

31j20b3

(310 posts)
24. and just as true, everything comes with liability
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:07 PM
11 hrs ago

one in four men get prostrate cancer, a testosterone dependent cancer.

Imaging the costs on the military and V.A. to provide healthcare for testosterone dependent cancers if a vet has had exposure to testosterone shots during their service.

Well never get decent grade schools across America if we have to deal with such costs.

odins folly

(689 posts)
25. So, just a casual glance at what some risks
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:10 PM
10 hrs ago

Point to fertility issues (I thought they wanted more babies) elevated red blood cells that increase risks of blood clots, sleep apnea and prostate growth.
Along with severe acne, excessive body hair, increased irritability, high blood pressure, fluid retention, low sperm count (see above).

So we soon have an army of sweaty, pock faced, overly hairy incels who hate everyone and are puffy with high blood pressure….

At least the won’t be able to breed effectively…….

Having spent 20 in the military, I weep for those who join up these days.

Fuck sake.

31j20b3

(310 posts)
28. Hegseth has a much sicker view of service personnel than Dick Cheney
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:14 PM
10 hrs ago

I wasn't sure that was possible.

I already wrote to my dem Senator Tammy Baldwin on this.

I could write to Pocan a WI house member, but I'm not in his district.

Everything to produce cutting edge War Fighters is clearly a sick mentality that will lead the military into ruination.

The Madcap

(2,271 posts)
27. Let him lead the forces into battle at the front.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:14 PM
10 hrs ago

Max roid rage.

What's next? Minimum penis length criterion?

31j20b3

(310 posts)
29. I'm doubting there is a field commander who would let Maj. Hegseth lead troops in battle
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:19 PM
10 hrs ago

Fucking MAGA journalist in charge is gonna kill people who aren;t even combat MOS>

Vietnam had roughly 53 thousand combat deaths. When the vets came home, another 300,000 yes, 300,000 died from Agent Orange related illnesses.

Why do politicians care so little for the people who go out and do the job, when they masturbate and doodle on scrap paper at their pentagon desk?

The Madcap

(2,271 posts)
47. If he were to go,
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:04 PM
10 hrs ago

he would return as a broken, quivering, husk. Even the bravest return scarred. The overconfident return destroyed...if they return at all.

31j20b3

(310 posts)
49. Warriors never fight as soldiers in an Army, they fight as lone Warriors
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:08 PM
10 hrs ago

and they don't fight as soldiers to end the fighting. They fight because they love it, and so they are always looking for another fight.

But the bastards like Hegseth aren't really warriors. They're embarrased soldiers hiding behind a furrowed brow and snarling lip, always afraid someone will see through their bravado to the real coward underneath.

Katcat

(688 posts)
54. Hegseth
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:34 PM
9 hrs ago

Should also know that real men don’t kiss the ass of anyone. And yet there he is with his face glued to aYUUUGE orange butt.

Lovie777

(24,765 posts)
31. Will there be a meter scale determining what % of testosterone qualifies................
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:21 PM
10 hrs ago

males - mostest in masculinity?

Will they be the ones on the front lines?

31j20b3

(310 posts)
36. Perhaps he wants RAGE not muscle. This is what comes
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:32 PM
10 hrs ago

from the mind of a guy who dreams of Conan-like barbarians as warriors in the US military.

Hegseth is not only stupid, he's got an evil streak as wide as the landing deck on the USS Kennedy

ga_girl

(211 posts)
37. Sounds like the incidences of rape will go up
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:35 PM
10 hrs ago

Hormonally charged men amidst women. What could go wrong?

31j20b3

(310 posts)
40. Well, all sorts of violent violations of the UCMJ I think
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:42 PM
10 hrs ago

This is the kind of shit thinking that graduates from Harvard with a Masters in Public Policy.

This AIN"T PUBLIC anything DON'T BLAME ALL AMERICANS it'svery personal idiocyncratic psychotic evilness.

struggle4progress

(127,502 posts)
39. He's not big on strategy, tactics, logistics, psychological warfare, signals intelligence, &c &c?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:38 PM
10 hrs ago

He's a fuckin drunk halfwit with a chip on his shoulder about women and people whose skin is a different shade than his

Lucky for him he's a REMF cuz otherwise his view of war would leave him a burnt shambles



fargone

(695 posts)
85. The word "Nazis" is repeatedly in the chorus and scattered elsewhere
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:55 PM
8 hrs ago

The person who "transcribed" the lyrics had a variety of words and non words but never got it right. The most interesting attempt was "night scissors" near the end.

struggle4progress

(127,502 posts)
88. I think closed captioning must not pay well, because such errors are extraordinarily common
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 07:16 PM
6 hrs ago

Karasu

(2,510 posts)
43. Republicans are nuts who have convinced themselves that testosterone is the end-all be-all of manhood. This obsession
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:54 PM
10 hrs ago

Last edited Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:37 PM - Edit history (1)

they have with it is cartoonish and absurd.

sop

(20,202 posts)
44. 'Literally Gender Affirming Care': Hegseth Mocked for Plan to Offer US Soldiers Testosterone
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 03:58 PM
10 hrs ago

"Critics on social media responded to Hegseth’s new testosterone injection plan with mockery."

"Journalist Amanda Katz joked that Hegseth’s plan was 'literally gender-affirming care' of the kind that Hegseth halted for transgender service members last year."

"Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) similarly asked Hegseth if the new program means that 'now y’all support gender-affirming care?' "

"Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said that the Hegseth initiative 'is gender affirming care and it completely debunks all of Republicans’ attacks on trans people.' "

https://www.commondreams.org/news/hegseth-testosterone-injection-plan

MineralMan

(152,205 posts)
45. Says the man taking "Chad" supplements
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:02 PM
10 hrs ago

on a daily basis. This is outrageous in the extreme.

mercuryblues

(16,603 posts)
46. Send your daughter to the military
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:02 PM
10 hrs ago

and she comes home a man. Sounds to me that is what magaTs are saying about kids going to school.

RedWhiteBlueIsRacist

(2,509 posts)
52. Next up, Penta-gone cra-cra creates new Christian hymn for troops: "Onward Christian Soldiers with Great Balls of Fire!"
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:27 PM
9 hrs ago

31j20b3

(310 posts)
63. Why risk skin cancer on the testicles when the military will pay for injections?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:51 PM
9 hrs ago

the evidence isnt good for ultraviolet on the testicles ncreasing testosterone

But then if we're dealing with guys who never went to college they probably are more interested in street stories than research results

tanyev

(50,056 posts)
70. Tucker Carlson was pushing it for a while.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:07 PM
9 hrs ago

Hegseth seems like the kind of guy who would be a big fan of it.

NickB79

(20,426 posts)
87. But it doesn't cause prostate cancer
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 07:14 PM
6 hrs ago

From the Mayo Clinic:

Current evidence does not show that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) causes prostate cancer. Extensive studies and reviews, including data from the Harvard Health Blog, indicate that appropriate TRT use does not increase your risk of developing the disease.


So that's an important distinction.

surfered

(15,485 posts)
89. Agreed. My point was just what else Mayo said...
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 07:44 PM
6 hrs ago

“But many prostate cancers are sensitive to testosterone, meaning that testosterone can help cancer cells grow and multiply.”

chowder66

(12,778 posts)
59. Will they report on those w/ low testosterone that perform well in battle, etc vs those who test high & perform poorly?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:46 PM
9 hrs ago

Doubt it.

31j20b3

(310 posts)
61. I don't think this is going to be a research project
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:48 PM
9 hrs ago

Hegseth has his belief and he's going to follow it regardless of medical or scientific evidence

Ocelot II

(132,093 posts)
60. That pretty much takes care of any remaining women, then?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:46 PM
9 hrs ago

Will women in the military services be relegated to rear-action clerical roles where they can be sexually harassed without recourse by Kegbreath's roided-up war fighters?

NCDem47

(3,588 posts)
64. This man needs help.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:56 PM
9 hrs ago

....or a long night at a men's bathhouse to cure his ills.

Soooooo preoccupied by hyper-masculinity.

allegorical oracle

(6,781 posts)
66. Maybe we should feel sorry for the women in relationships with those men. Two of
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:58 PM
9 hrs ago

my former female co-workers were married to ultra-macho Army officers. I had met the men. Both women separately confided to me that they were routinely beaten by their husbands. One said she was hospitalized twice after beatings.

If Pete's machismo military is regularly juiced up with high levels of testosterone, what happens once they're home and not getting that extra "boost"?

Zelda_Orchid

(129 posts)
67. The upper echelons of the Trump leadership need to be tested.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 04:58 PM
9 hrs ago

They're the ones overcompensating.

rationalcalgarian

(302 posts)
69. War fighters?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:02 PM
9 hrs ago

It sounds like some cheap-ass video game you can download on your phone. Warfighters!
Jesus, what a asshole…

31j20b3

(310 posts)
75. He's been using that phrase for many months now
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:27 PM
8 hrs ago

He thinks soldiers should behave like Conan the Barbarian

EnergizedLib

(3,306 posts)
79. There was a time Barry Goldwater was ultra conservative
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:36 PM
8 hrs ago

You know, the same Barry Goldwater who said one doesn’t need to be straight to serve in the military, just shoot straight.

Now, we’ve got whatever lunacy this is.

SpankMe

(3,840 posts)
80. Yep. Mandatory vaccines are a no-go
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:36 PM
8 hrs ago

But forced T-testing is OK? He doesn't say if there are minimum T requirements. But that's coming, I'm sure.

Also, he just says "service members". Does this mean women, too?

You know, onece a man starts HRT or TRT, it's pretty much for life. For those who chose TRT, will the VA continue lifetime treatment after separation? What about dishonorable discharge? Being on TRT for years and then stopping it suddenly can hurt someone pretty bad. I hope this terrorist knows that.

SWBTATTReg

(26,598 posts)
82. That was my first thought, that he's taking way too much of the T too, being so 'macho' and such, and tattooed w/
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:38 PM
8 hrs ago

a million tats all over. If anything, he's going to drop dead from too much aggression, too much T in his body, or hyper-something.

I went through the needing more T phase via my doctor, and its impact on me was so so, nothing major like apparently he's expecting (everyone taking more T would develop into 'macho macho man' stereo types).

blue_jay

(341 posts)
83. What could possibly go wrong with this idea, no, I mean literally /medically speaking?
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 05:43 PM
8 hrs ago

So, I'm sure this isn't the whole story of what could go wrong and please take this summary for what it is. A possibly /most likely imperfect answer from a chat GPT nano query. Here is a snip of a conversation: My apologies in advance for the length of this response.
.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Drawbacks of testosterone testing (especially for diagnosing “deficiency”)

- It’s variable day-to-day. Testosterone levels change with time of day, acute illness, sleep, and other factors—so a single low value can be misleading. That’s why diagnosis requires repeat early-morning testing rather than one result.
- Assay/lab differences. Different lab methods and reference ranges can produce different numbers, and results for “free” vs “total” testosterone may not be interchangeable across people.
- Low testosterone isn’t always the right explanation. Symptoms like low energy, low libido, erectile issues, or depressed mood can have many causes, so numbers must be interpreted alongside symptoms/signs and medical history.
- “Normal” doesn’t always rule things out. Some people with symptoms may have testosterone values that don’t clearly meet the guideline threshold, leading to uncertainty about whether symptoms will respond to therapy.

Drawbacks of using testosterone (testosterone therapy / TRT)

- Fertility can be harmed. Exogenous testosterone can suppress the body’s natural signals to the testes, lowering sperm production. This is a major issue for men trying to conceive—TRT is generally avoided for that goal.
- Erythrocytosis (high hematocrit) / clot risk concern. TRT can raise red blood cell mass, increasing hematocrit and potentially raising thrombotic risk in some patients; it also requires blood monitoring and sometimes dose adjustment or holding treatment.
- Prostate/urinary effects and PSA changes. TRT can increase PSA (which is expected as testosterone stimulates prostate tissue). It may also worsen lower urinary tract symptoms in some men with benign prostate enlargement, and it requires prostate monitoring—especially in men >40.
- Breathing-related issues. It can worsen obstructive sleep apnea in susceptible people.
- Fluid retention, acne, gynecomastia. Common side effects can include acne/skin oiliness, fluid retention (sometimes affecting blood pressure), breast tissue enlargement in some, and other androgen-related effects.
- Cardiovascular uncertainty. Evidence is mixed; some studies show no clear increase in major adverse cardiac events when used appropriately, while others suggest possible risk signals. This means careful patient selection and risk-factor management matter.
- You may not feel better. Even when testosterone levels improve into the target range, symptoms may not improve; guidelines recommend re-assessing after a few months and considering stopping if benefit isn’t clear.
- Long-term commitment and monitoring. TRT typically requires ongoing dosing and repeat labs (testosterone level, hematocrit, often PSA), which is an ongoing burden rather than a one-time fix.
....................................................................................................................................................................................................................
In an effort to be at least partially non-biased here is a incredibly lazy query on my part about the potential positives in an generic age group that I picked out of thin air for active duty men in the military.

Are there any positives for taking testosterone in men from ages 18-45?
Yes—when a man truly has testosterone deficiency (low levels confirmed with appropriate testing) and has relevant symptoms, the AUA guideline notes that testosterone therapy can produce improvements. The “positives” that are best supported are:

- Erectile function: improvements in IIEF erectile function scores in clinical trials.
-Low sex drive: improvement in sexual desire/sex drive.
-Anemia: improvements in hemoglobin and related anemia measures.
-Bone mineral density (BMD): increases in BMD.
-Lean body mass: increases in lean mass.
-Depressive symptoms / mood: some men show improvements in depressive symptoms.

The AUA (american urological society, auanet.org) frames these improvements as “may result in improvements,” meaning they’re not guaranteed—but they’re the main potential benefits supported by trials in men with confirmed testosterone deficiency.
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Can testosterone therapy make you more irritable or shrink your private parts?

Yes, both can happen.

Irritability / mood changes: Testosterone (or higher-dose TRT) can change mood in some people—e.g., increased irritability, anger, restlessness, or agitation—especially if levels swing high or if dosing is too aggressive. Not everyone gets it, but it’s a known possible side effect.

Genital/testicular shrinkage: TRT can cause testicular shrinkage (testicular atrophy). This is because external testosterone suppresses LH/FSH, which reduces stimulation of the testes and can lower sperm production. People often notice smaller testes while on therapy.
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Has any country used testosterone to make super soldiers?
There’s no solid, public evidence that any country has run a verified program where testosterone specifically was used to create “super soldiers” in the sense of radically transforming people for combat (as portrayed in movies).

What is well documented is that militaries have, at various times, used performance-enhancing drugs broadly (e.g., stimulants for fatigue/wakefulness), and there’s ongoing ethical concern and reporting about the idea of “biologically enhanced” soldiers. A U.S. intelligence official has also publicly alleged that China conducted “human testing” for “biologically enhanced” capabilities (without substantiating details publicly, and not specifically saying testosterone).
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In conclusion and IMHO, it is totally possible some people could benefit from careful use of testosterone if they are symptomatic and deficient so no hate to anyone who actually needs it. Serious disdain however for those who take it and become raging, maniac a-holes to the rest of society. Oh yeah, almost forgot, thank you for your attention to this matter.

flvegan

(66,780 posts)
86. It's so all the male troops will have manboobs like Orange Fuhrer.
Wed Jul 15, 2026, 06:25 PM
7 hrs ago

Gynecomastia is a common side effect of introducing a bunch of test into subjects without adequate testing, moderation, etc.

President McTacoTits will feel more manly man if his troops share his cup size. Manziers/Manssiers* for all the men!

*a/k/a The Bro if you're in Camp Cosmo Kramer

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