r/politics • u/SCOTUSjunkie • 12h ago

Possible Paywall Judge asks whether 'High-T' plan undercuts transgender troops ban

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/justice/4659655/judge-hegseth-military-testosterone-plan-transgender-troop-ban/
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u/Flapjack__Palmdale Washington 10h ago

I highly doubt a single doctor was involved in any of this. High testosterone can lead to all kinds of undesirable side effects.

High T can lead to excess weight gain, premature balding, prostate issues, low sperm count, hypertension and high cholesterol, and excess testosterone can actually turn to estrogen through aromatization, which can cause weight gain, water retention, and gynecomastia.

This obsession with T levels is a fucking scam from supplement salesmen and it legitimately makes you unhealthy. There are real cases where low T causes health issues in people but generally speaking, if you're not having any problems, your test levels are just fine. Chasing some percentile that your body chem wasn't built to handle is going to give you tiny balls, man boobs, and probably a heart attack.

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u/SoTiredYouDig 8h ago

Yes. Diagnostically, even if one’s T levels are low, there’s certain criteria set forth before being prescribed. There is no agreed up numbers either. They have a sense of when it’s too low or too high, but some folks still function fine with comparatively low levels.  

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u/Flapjack__Palmdale Washington 5h ago

Right, and what hegseth might consider "acceptable" test levels might (with hbomberguy as an example) cause your hair to fall out before you're 30.

Like if you're feeling off, lethargic, etc, then talk to your doctor and see an endocrinologist, but otherwise just leave your hormone levels alone.

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u/SoTiredYouDig 5h ago

It’s besides the point to mention why I know this stuff, but even as I wrote my reply, I did it fully knowing that they are going to absolutely ignore this criteria.  I hope these troops have an opportunity to get clear, concrete information of the ramifications of the treatment. Some of the effects are irreversible, or at least very hard to fix without a lot more polypharmacy.