Pentagon to test testosterone levels of all service members aged 30+
The United States Department of Defence has announced a mandatory screening programme to test testosterone levels of all active duty and reserve personnel aged 30 and older. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the initiative aims to 'restore and optimise' the capabilities of service members.
In a video posted on social media platform X, Hegseth stated that the screening would help ensure troops have 'the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best'. Those aged 30 and above will be tested annually, while younger members can request testing. Service members found to have low testosterone levels will be offered voluntary replacement therapy.
Hegseth emphasised that the programme is 'not about artificial enhancement' but about taking care of long-term health. 'We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation,' he said in the video.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed that the mandatory screening is effective immediately for all eligible personnel. 'The protocol will enable the Department to establish a comprehensive baseline and offer targeted testosterone therapy, ensuring that it sustains a healthy, capable, and decisively dominant fighting force,' Parnell said in a statement.
The announcement comes as other Trump administration officials, including US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, have pushed for broader access to testosterone therapies. Kennedy has described low testosterone as a contributing factor to what he calls a national 'fertility crisis'.
Dr Mohit Khera, a urology professor at Baylor College of Medicine who led an FDA expert panel on testosterone screening in the military, told the BBC that all men over 30 should be screened. 'The key here is that many young men have low testosterone levels, which puts them at a disadvantage in terms of muscle mass, energy, and that could be an issue if you are in combat,' Khera said.
However, Khera cautioned that testosterone therapy is not for everyone. 'If young men do take testosterone, it can make them infertile,' he warned. He also noted a theoretical increased cardiovascular risk associated with the therapy. Khera stressed that treatment should only be given to those with symptoms of low testosterone.
The US Food and Drug Administration last month requested the removal of safety and effectiveness language from testosterone replacement therapy product labels and proposed loosening prescribing limits. Non-medical use of testosterone for muscle enhancement without a prescription remains strictly prohibited in the military.
