Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that service members age 30 and older will undergo annual testosterone level checks as part of their routine health assessments. This marks a significant policy shift aimed at proactively managing troop health and readiness.
Under the new directive, individuals under 30 will have the option for voluntary testing. Those diagnosed with a testosterone deficiency will be offered testosterone replacement therapy. Hegseth stated in a video posted to X that testosterone levels often naturally decline with age, emphasizing the importance of addressing such markers to maintain psychological and mental readiness on what he described as a "brutal and unrelenting" modern battlefield.
Low testosterone has been a recognized concern within the military, particularly in special operations units where high stress, strenuous physical activity, and insufficient calorie intake may impact hormone levels. While research is ongoing, medical professionals note that online discussions of "low-T" may overstate its prevalence, with the American Urological Association estimating that a small percentage of men, around 2%, may have a diagnosed deficiency. The association also points out that a testosterone deficiency diagnosis requires both symptoms and at least two separate early-morning blood tests confirming low levels.
Concerns have also been raised about the appropriateness of testosterone prescribing. Studies suggest that up to 25% of men receiving testosterone therapy may not have had their levels properly tested, and up to a third do not meet the medical criteria for a diagnosis, according to the American Urology Association. Testosterone prescribing has tripled in recent years.
This new Pentagon policy coincides with a broader focus on military fitness during Hegseth's tenure, including adjustments to fitness tests and body fat measurements. While service members have historically had access to testosterone testing and replacement therapy through Tricare, the health insurance program, these screenings were not previously integrated into annual health assessments.
The Pentagon has not yet specified the testosterone levels that will be considered acceptable nor whether troops with lower levels might face professional consequences. Currently, the military employs medical standards that can impact a service member's deployability, similar to how unresolved dental issues can lead to a non-deployable status, potentially limiting assignments and affecting careers.
Testosterone levels naturally decrease by approximately 1% per year after age 30, though they do not typically deplete severely, according to the Endocrine Society. The FDA has not approved testosterone boosting for the purpose of improving strength or athletic performance in men with age-appropriate levels, and there is limited data to support its use as a longevity tool. Doctors caution that administering testosterone without a diagnosed deficiency can lead to health problems, including acne, worsened sleep apnea, breast swelling, or infertility.