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Holly Berckelman, New York Post, October 20, 2026
The New York Post examines "testmaxxing," in which men without a diagnosed deficiency inject testosterone to build muscle and look more masculine, often bought without a prescription. Two men in their 30s profiled in the article report feeling stronger. One attributes his motivation to body dysmorphia. The article ties the trend to online "looksmaxxing" and manosphere culture, and notes that U.S. searches for "testosterone" rose 30% in the past year. Doctors warn that men with normal levels gain little and face serious risks. The biggest risk for young males is that injected testosterone shuts down the body's own production of testosterone and sperm, and recovery can take months or years. Other risks include blood clots, stroke, mood disorders, liver disease, and heart attack.
Cleveland Clinic, October 20, 2026
A Cleveland Clinic article features Dr. Mark Paulos, who argues that low testosterone is a marker of overall health, driven largely by obesity, metabolic health, and sleep, rather than an inevitable part of aging. He warns that direct-to-consumer platforms can overstate testosterone's benefits and prescribe it without proper testing. For young males who want to preserve fertility, testosterone is inappropriate because it suppresses sperm production. Even modest improvements in diet, exercise, and sleep can meaningfully raise testosterone levels. He also notes that men who suspect low testosterone may actually be experiencing depression, a sleep disorder, or stress.
Ashley J. DiMella,Fox News, October 24, 2026
A Fox News article reports that the Trump administration is treating low testosterone as a military readiness issue. The Pentagon issued testosterone deficiency screening guidelines in September for male service members aged 30 and older, starting with an assessment of symptoms and risk factors, with further testing and treatment when medically appropriate. Adm. Brian Christine, a senior HHS official and urologist, frames this within a broader recruiting problem: 77% of Americans aged 17 to 24 don't qualify for military service without a waiver, with obesity and chronic disease among the barriers. He stresses that the program offers symptomatic men with low levels a pathway forward rather than forcing testosterone on anyone. Christine and NIH Director Jay Bhattacharya both point to a long-term decline in American men's testosterone. Bhattacharya says the causes are still unknown and some deficiency goes undiagnosed, and the NIH is funding research into the decline, including possible environmental factors behind falling sperm counts. Separate hormonal health guidance for female service members is also in development.
Newsquawk, October 21, 2026
This Newsquawk item, written for investors, reports that on October 21, 2026, Hims & Hers expanded its testosterone care to include injectable and oral testosterone replacement therapy, calling it the company's largest men's health launch to date. The page offers no clinical details, pricing, or eligibility criteria. Instead, it reads the launch as a business move, noting that TRT is a recurring-revenue, chronic-condition category with high refill rates, the kind of product that supports subscription-based business models. The analysis points out that injectables carry heavier compounding, prescribing, and regulatory burdens than the company's existing products. It suggests watching for uptake figures on future earnings calls, comments on prescriber capacity, and whether the injectable product draws the kind of regulatory scrutiny that has periodically affected compounded-drug telehealth companies.
Kate Manne, New York Times, October 20, 2026
A Cornell professor examines a Chi Phi fraternity group chat from the night a woman says she was sexually assaulted by seven men, all of whom deny wrongdoing. She argues that the chat shows men bonding over preying on an intoxicated woman while no one objected. She attributes this to a "bro code" of loyalty and to "himpathy," her term for sympathy shown to accused men over victims. She cites research finding that fraternity members are three times as likely to commit sexual violence in their first year. The author contends that technology now makes it easier for men to organize sexual predation. She notes that reported sexual assault among Cornell's female undergraduates rose from 23% in 2023 to 35% in 2025. Rejecting the university's suspension of fraternity parties as inadequate, she calls for abolishing fraternities altogether.
David Sasaki, Boys & Men Online, October 21, 2026
The Boys & Men Online newsletter argues that the industry's claim of a fixed 1% problem-gambling rate is outdated. Smartphone apps, personalized promotions, and constant notifications are now hooking a new generation of gamblers, mostly young men. It cites reporting that DraftKings rewarded a journalist's deliberately risky betting with VIP status and personalized incentives, and notes that New York, Massachusetts, and Louisiana are beginning to scrutinize how operators use AI. The newsletter also highlights a JAMA Psychiatry study finding that among men, legalized online sports betting was associated with increases in antidepressant use and anxiety diagnoses, though the study did not show that those receiving care were bettors.
Lisa Green, journalgazette.net, October 23, 2026
Murmuration's AI and the Human Future report surveyed nearly 7,200 adults and almost 800 teens and found a gender gap in views of AI that is widest among young adults. Among 18- to 30-year-olds, 58% of women said AI's impact on the world is negative, compared with 38% of men. Young adults were also split on AI and elections: 54% of young women were very concerned that AI could make it harder to know what is true, versus 35% of young men. Young males were the group most open to the tech industry. Only 43% of men ages 18 to 30 said local residents should have the most say over nearby AI infrastructure, compared with at least 55% of every other age-and-gender group. And 14% would leave those decisions to tech companies, nearly double the national figure of 8%. The teen findings are not broken down by sex.
Mary Moore RN, Gilmore Health News, October 20, 2026
A Gilmore Health News article reports on Gallup's 2025 finding that 31.4% of women ages 18–29 identify as LGBTQ+, compared with 11.4% of men the same age. The gap is driven mainly by higher bisexual identification among women, which does not necessarily mean they aren't interested in dating men. The article asks whether the gap means more competition among heterosexual men for female partners, and concludes the evidence doesn't support that claim. Identity labels don't capture actual attraction, dating behavior, or relationship status. The author calls for research that directly measures how many single women want to date men, and how many single men want to date women.
EurekAlert! AAAS, October 20, 2926
A study published in Tobacco Control found that among 18- to 24-year-olds who vape daily, use of high-nicotine e-cigarettes rose from about 3% in 2017 to about 49% in 2022. Males had 55% higher odds than females of using these products, and young adults had 15 times the odds of those 55 and older. By 2022, young adults who only vaped were as nicotine-dependent as those who only smoked. Using high-nicotine products was also linked to 31% lower odds of quitting. The researchers call on the FDA to urgently reassess its authorization of these products.
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