Hegseth announces testosterone screening plan for older troops
The defense secretary said troops 30 and older will be screened annually, while younger service members may volunteer for testing.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that the military will begin screening service members for testosterone deficiency, adding a new hormone test to annual medical checks for troops age 30 and above. The policy could affect how the Pentagon evaluates readiness and medical treatment as Trump administration officials push for broader access to testosterone therapies.
Hegseth said in a social media video that troops under 30 may volunteer for the screening. He described the program as a way to help service members perform at their “absolute best,” though his remarks referred broadly to troops and appeared to focus on men in uniform.
The Pentagon, when asked what medical conditions the policy was meant to address, pointed to Hegseth’s comments about keeping troops “strong, resilient and capable.” The department also cited his statement that modern combat demands “maximum psychological and mental readiness,” but it did not name specific illnesses or diagnoses covered by the program.
Hegseth said testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary for those identified through the screenings. He also said the initiative is “not about artificial enhancement.”
The Pentagon did not provide research or academic studies supporting the new screening policy. It also did not say whether female troops would have access to comparable screening for declining estrogen levels during perimenopause.
The announcement comes after years of concern inside parts of the military about the use of testosterone and related substances, especially among special operations forces. Navy SEALs came under scrutiny after a SEAL recruit died during training in 2022 and investigators found substances in his possession, including testosterone, according to reporting on the case.
The Navy said the following year that it would start testing for hormonal substances connected to testosterone that promote muscle growth. That program was aimed at detecting performance-enhancing drug use, while Hegseth framed the new screening effort as a medical readiness measure.
Testosterone levels in men decline with age, and low levels have been associated with erectile dysfunction, reduced libido, mood changes and weight gain, according to medical experts. Doctors have debated for years how to diagnose clinically meaningful testosterone deficiency and when replacement therapy is appropriate.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other Trump administration officials have supported making testosterone easier to prescribe. The Food and Drug Administration last month proposed loosening prescribing limits for testosterone gels, pills, patches and injections.
Current FDA labeling says those medications are intended for men with hypogonadism, a condition that causes sharply low testosterone. Advocates tied to Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement have promoted testosterone for building muscle, looking younger and staying mentally sharp, although most medical experts do not accept those uses as standard treatment.
Recent research has offered a more favorable view of testosterone therapy for some patients. The FDA last year removed a boxed warning about possible heart attack and stroke risks from testosterone drugs.
Studies by the National Institutes of Health in older men found that testosterone improved erectile dysfunction, libido and other sexual measures, with a small effect on mood. The NIH studies found little or no improvement in fatigue, memory or overall well-being, while other studies have shown possible gains in muscle growth, strength and bone density.
Current medical guidelines generally advise against broad testosterone testing without symptoms. Doctors are typically told to consider therapy for men who have significant symptoms and low testosterone confirmed on two separate blood tests.
Testing can be difficult because testosterone levels shift during the day. Accurate readings are usually taken in the morning after fasting, according to standard medical practice.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.