Men's Health Briefing: October 26, 2026

The short version

A quiet week. We found no new FDA, DEA, FTC, or federal telehealth actions on men's health since our October 19 briefing.

Health topics: a study of U.S. cancer registry and VA records found that low-risk prostate cancer is being diagnosed less often and treated far less often with radiation, as active surveillance has become the norm.

Health topics: a case-control study of 405 men in fertility treatment in China linked higher urine levels of two water-disinfection byproducts to a higher risk of low sperm motility. It cannot show cause.

On our watch list: a JAMA study of soldiers' testosterone levels, published October 15, adds to the debate over the Pentagon's plan to screen men aged 30 and older.

The DEA's final telehealth prescribing rule has not been published as of this check. The temporary rules expire December 31, 2026.

This week

We checked FDA, DEA, and FTC announcements, federal telehealth policy, research news, and news on the providers in our directory for October 20 – 26. We found nothing in that window that we could confirm with a primary source and that changes treatment access, cost, safety, or health data for men's health readers. The FDA press announcements we found, dated October 19 – 22, concern a hepatitis B treatment, a generic hormone therapy patch for women, a rectal cancer immunotherapy, prescription drug app guidance, and a neuroscience program; none concerns testosterone, GLP-1s, erectile dysfunction, or hair-loss drugs. The FTC's October 22 releases concern a government-impersonation scheme and a debt-relief case; none concerns men's health products or telehealth. Medicare telehealth coverage remains in place through December 31, 2027. For the previous check, see our October 19 briefing.

Health topics

Longevity & screening · Prostate healthListed October 26, 2026

Low-risk prostate cancer is being found less often, and radiation for it has fallen sharply

Researchers analyzed three data sets of localized prostate cancer: the national SEER cancer registry (2010–2023), Veterans Affairs records (2010–2024), and MROQC, a radiation oncology quality registry (2021–2025). They defined low-risk disease as grade group 1, PSA under 10 ng/mL, and stage T2a or lower. The share of newly diagnosed cancers that were low-risk fell from 28.8% to 24.0% in SEER and from 32.3% to 21.9% in the VA. Among men diagnosed with low-risk disease, the share who had neither radiation nor surgery rose from 33.6% to 83.4% in SEER and from 51.6% to 96.3% in the VA. Among 207,196 men treated with radiation, the share who had low-risk disease fell from 33.7% to 6.5% in SEER and from 22.9% to 2.0% in the VA. The authors read this as a nationwide shift toward active surveillance. The paper is in Cancer (volume 132, issue 21, dated November 1, 2026) and was listed on PubMed on October 26, 2026.

The limits matter. This is a registry and records analysis. It shows what happened to groups of patients, not whether any one man's choice was right, and it does not measure long-term outcomes. We read the abstract only.

What it means for youFinding a slow-growing prostate cancer does not always mean treating it right away; watching it closely with repeat tests is now the usual approach for low-risk disease. That is a conversation to have with your doctor, who can explain your own results. Whether and when to get a PSA test is also a decision to make with your doctor.

Sources: Cancer (DOI) · PubMed record · Related: Cancer screening · Prostate health guide

Male fertilityOctober 21, 2026

Two water-disinfection byproducts in urine linked to a higher risk of low sperm motility

Researchers at Tongji Medical College in Wuhan, China, compared 135 men with asthenozoospermia (a semen condition in which too few sperm move well) with 270 age-matched men without it. All were men receiving assisted reproductive treatment. They measured two haloacetic acids, trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid, in urine; these form when drinking water is disinfected with chlorine. Men in the highest quarter of each had about twice the odds of asthenozoospermia compared with the lowest quarter (dichloroacetic acid: odds ratio 2.05, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.83; trichloroacetic acid: 2.13, 95% CI 1.11 to 4.09). Men with high levels of both had an odds ratio of 2.62 (95% CI 1.48 to 4.69). The study was published online October 21, 2026 in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology.

The limits matter. This is a single case-control study of men already seeking fertility treatment, so the findings may not apply to other men. It shows an association, not that these chemicals caused the problem, and urine levels reflect recent exposure from many sources, not only tap water. The confidence intervals are wide. We read the abstract only.

What it means for youThis is early research and gives no reason to change how you drink water. If you and a partner are trying to conceive and have not succeeded after a year, or you have other concerns, a semen analysis and a visit with a doctor are the standard first steps. Testosterone therapy can lower sperm production, so tell any prescriber if you want children.

Sources: J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol (DOI) · PubMed record · Related: TRT and fertility · Male fertility guide

What we're watching

The DEA's final telemedicine rule, which was sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget on August 25, 2026. The federal regulatory agenda lists November 2026 for final action, ahead of the December 31 expiration of the temporary telehealth prescribing rules. We found no publication of the rule as of October 26. If you get testosterone through a telehealth-only provider, nothing has changed yet. (NASCSA)

Testosterone screening in the military. A JAMA study published October 15, 2026, using data from 479 men in the Military Health and Nutrition Examination Study at five Army bases, estimated that 25.7% of active-duty male soldiers would have a single morning testosterone reading below 300 ng/dL (14.7% at a 264 ng/dL cutoff). The authors cautioned that one low reading is not a diagnosis. The Pentagon has said men aged 30 and older will be screened; the American Association of Clinical Endocrinology said on August 18 that current evidence does not support routine screening of men without symptoms. The Pentagon posted and then withdrew its guidance on September 2–3, saying final guidance would be issued shortly. We have not read the JAMA paper itself; these figures come from news coverage of it. See our TRT guide. (Defense News · AACE statement · Stars and Stripes)

Medicare coverage of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Medicare's temporary GLP-1 program has covered Wegovy (injection or tablet), Foundayo, and the Zepbound KwikPen since July 1, 2026, for people with Part D who meet BMI and health criteria, with a $50 monthly copay. Medicare's page lists no changes this month and gives prior authorizations as valid through December 31, 2027. (Medicare.gov · our GLP-1 guide)

Testosterone for women, following the FDA's September 17 public workshop. Comments closed October 19, 2026. (Public comment docket)

Testosterone label updates as manufacturers revise their prescribing information after the FDA's June 2026 request. See our TRT guide for what the research shows.

Compounded GLP-1 enforcement, including any follow-up to the FDA's September 18 warning letter to Empower Pharmacy, which the FDA made public on September 22. A warning letter states the FDA's concerns and is not a final finding. (Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney · Related: our GLP-1 guide)

The FTC's case against Hims & Hers, filed July 29, 2026. The allegations have not been proven, and the company has said it disputes them. (FTC case page · Our Hims review)