Doctors warn: Three common medical tests may do more harm than good

Some widely promoted diagnostic tests may be not only unnecessary but also potentially harmful, Brooke Nickel, a senior researcher at the Sydney Health Literacy Lab warned.

The expert identified three such tests: full-body MRI scans, testosterone level testing, and anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) tests, The Guardian reports.

These are often promoted on social media but are generally not recommended by doctors due to the risk of overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment.

For example, full-body MRI scans can detect harmless abnormalities that may cause unnecessary anxiety, while AMH tests do not provide an accurate measure of fertility but can still trigger concern. Testosterone testing, meanwhile, may lead to hormone use with a high risk of side effects.

Nickel said the main issue lies in the aggressive marketing of such services, adding that effective prevention is based on balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, quality sleep, and timely medical consultation when symptoms appear.

By Jeyhun Aghazada