What the Pentagon’s New Testosterone Screening Policy Means for Troops
Service members with symptoms will be screened more closely, and testosterone replacement therapy may be offered, the Pentagon said.
- The Defense Department released guidance late Thursday requiring mandatory testosterone screenings for male service members 30 and older, reversing course two weeks after previously pulling the policy amid medical expert scrutiny.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the program aims to "invest in the health of its warfighters" and strengthen performance by treating suboptimal hormone levels to maximize force readiness.
- For symptomatic service members, testing involves two blood screenings to determine if testosterone levels fall between 300 and 600 nanograms per deciliter, while the policy currently excludes female personnel pending guideline review.
- Major medical organizations advise against routine screening, noting "evidence does not support its use to improve energy, vitality, physical function, or cognition." The protocol warns that synthetic testosterone can reduce natural sperm production, creating infertility risks.
- The Cleveland Clinic reports typical testosterone levels for men aged 30 to 34 range from 359 to 498 nanograms per deciliter, providing clinical context as normal levels generally decline after age 30.
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Pentagon moving forward with testosterone testing for male troops
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has rolled out formal guidance for mandatory testosterone testing for male service members 30 and older, a policy that leaves out women for now and faces questions from medical experts about the need and efficacy of…
The Pentagon resumed the mandatory testing program to evaluate the testosterone levels of U.S. military personnel aged 30 or over. The measure had been temporarily suspended in early September to update the guidelines. The new guideline, announced on Thursday (17), initially applies to male military personnel and establishes standardized protocols for [...]
Measure had previously been suspended; new guideline determines the conduct of the exams as part of annual physical and health assessments
Telemundo Phoenix/Tucson
The Pentagon has put in place formal guidelines for mandatory testosterone testing for male military officers aged 30 or older, a policy that, for now, leaves women out and raises doubts among medical experts about the need for and effectiveness of such a program. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in July that a new program was needed to detect “sterone deficiency” among soldiers, in order to allow them to surrender to their “absolute max…
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