Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the U.S. military will implement mandatory testosterone deficiency screenings for service members aged 30 and older. The testing will be integrated into annual Periodic Health Assessments for both Active Duty and Reserve Component personnel. Under the new policy, service members younger than 30 may also request the screening on a voluntary basis.
Hegseth stated that the program aims to ensure troops operate at their best and maintain long-term health and resilience. Personnel diagnosed with a deficiency will be offered voluntary hormone replacement therapy. Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell said the protocol will establish a health baseline and sustain a "decisively dominant fighting force." Hegseth emphasized that the program is intended for medical necessity rather than artificial muscle enhancement, which remains prohibited without a prescription.
The announcement drew varied reactions from lawmakers. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) requested that hormone testing be made available for both men and women, while Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) criticized the initiative as being focused on culture-war issues. The Pentagon declined to comment on whether similar evaluations for estrogen-based therapy would be provided for female troops entering perimenopause.
Medical experts noted that testosterone levels naturally decline after age 30, affecting between 10% and 40% of older men. Dr. Mohit Khera, a professor of urology who previously led an FDA panel on military screening, noted that while therapy can improve energy and muscle mass, it carries risks such as potential infertility and cardiovascular issues. The policy shift follows recent proposals by the FDA to loosen prescribing limits for testosterone products.