Pentagon Issues Clinical Guidance on Troop Testosterone Testing

Pentagon Issues Clinical Guidance on Troop Testosterone Testing

The Pentagon has issued immediate clinical guidance for a new testosterone-deficiency screening program tied to routine military health assessments.

Men in active-duty and reserve forces age 30 and older will receive mandatory blood screening; younger men may be screened if they request it or a clinician sees warning signs.

The guidance, which is effective immediately, establishes standardized screening and treatment pathways for men and women that the ​Pentagon says are aimed at improving military readiness by ​identifying and managing hormonal and energy-availability issues.

Hegseth, who has ⁠promoted the use of testosterone, announced the mandate last month, ​raising questions among experts about whether there was a scientific basis for ​such a policy. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to hold a meeting of experts to discuss medical use of testosterone in mid-September.

According ​to the guidance, men age 30 and older will receive ​mandatory testosterone blood tests, while younger men will be tested only on ‌request ⁠or if clinicians identify warning signs.

For women, the guidance does not mandate routine testosterone blood tests, but it calls for screening for fatigue and disrupted menstrual cycles that can be associated ​with hormonal dysregulation ​and conditions called ⁠low-energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport.

US Pentagon issues clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately https://t.co/3vHrELfowd https://t.co/3vHrELfowd

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 3, 2026

Optional treatment will be made available for anyone found to have issues.

Service members who are diagnosed with hypogonadism, or low testosterone, will get follow-up screenings and treatment, including testosterone replacement therapy, if needed.

Hegseth said in July that if treatment is recommended for service members, “it’s entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy.”

Male service members under the age of 30 will be offered optional annual screenings.

The guidelines call for female service members to be asked if they have any symptoms of hormonal dysregulation and referred for further assessment if needed.

Hegseth stressed that this new initiative is “not about artificial enhancement.”

“This initiative — it’s not about artificial enhancement; it’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight,” Hegseth said.

He framed the annual screening test as part of an investment in “the individual warfighter,” calling the service members “our most decisive tactical advantage.” He argued that it was a “sacred duty” to keep the advantage, explaining that the department looks for ways to improve service members’ health and performance.

“And to meet that commitment today, I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best,” Hegseth said in the video.

The Defense Department declined to say whether there would be estrogen screenings for female service members and if there would be repercussions for service members who declined the recommended testosterone treatment, instead referring NBC News to Hegseth’s video..

The key arguments against this approach are that it is not currently standard clinical practice, and medical professionals are questioning if the screening will enhance military personnel readiness.

Five of six men’s health experts contacted by Reuters for this story said they were puzzled by the announcement on testosterone testing and concerned it may lead to unnecessary — or even ⁠harmful — treatment.

…Four of the six doctors said there was no solid evidence suggesting that screening for low testosterone in all military personnel aged 30 and older would optimize U.S. readiness for combat.

“We hear from patients that when you treat low T, things like cognitive alertness and stamina improve. But the evidence is not concrete, and it comes from patients who were treated because they were symptomatic,” said Dr. Kevin McVary, a urologist on the ​medical advisory board of Rugiet, a telehealth platform that provides testosterone supplements.

Military to require testosterone screening – but do healthy men actually need it? https://t.co/xtmwB0mxn6 pic.twitter.com/COp28SPmY1

— New York Post (@nypost) July 16, 2026

Whether the policy ultimately improves force readiness should be judged less by the reaction of a medical establishment whose COVID-era record did not always inspire public confidence than by measurable military outcomes.

By the end of President Trump’s term, the more meaningful test will be whether screened and voluntarily treated personnel show visible, sustained improvements in health, retention, injury recovery, stamina, and operational performance. Such improvements should have occurred without an unacceptable rise in adverse effects or inappropriate prescribing.

Until those results are available, the program is best viewed as a potentially consequential readiness initiative aimed at a healthier and more capable military.

Donations tax deductible
to the full extent allowed by law.