Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday that U.S. troops will undergo yearly testosterone testing, marking a notable change in military health policy as attention to hormone levels and readiness has grown in recent years.
Under the new policy, service members who are 30 and older will receive annual testosterone screenings during their regular health assessments. For troops younger than 30, the testing will be voluntary.
Service members who are found to have a testosterone deficiency will be able to pursue testosterone replacement therapy as an option.
“As we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop,” Hegseth said in a video shared on X.
“As we know, the modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting. It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness. And by addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation: the absolute best,” Hegseth said.
Low testosterone has drawn concern within the military, especially among special operations forces. Intense stress, heavy physical demands and insufficient calorie intake may all affect testosterone levels, though researchers are still studying the issue.
Only a very small share of men have the medical condition known as testosterone deficiency. Still, some physicians worry that the online popularity of “low-T” as a health concern has made the condition appear far more widespread than it is.
About 2% of men may have testosterone deficiency, according to the American Urological Association. The overall scope remains difficult to define, in part because different standards are used to determine whether someone is deficient. Testosterone-related problems are most often seen in older men and in men with diabetes or obesity.
Testosterone prescribing has tripled in recent years, but a lot of that prescribing is happening incorrectly, with some studies suggesting that up to 25% of men who receive testosterone therapy do not have their levels properly tested, according to the American Urology Association.
The American Urological Association estimates up to a third of men who are put on testosterone therapy do not meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis, telling ABC News in a statement “a testosterone deficiency diagnosis requires both symptoms and/or signs of low testosterone and at least two separate early-morning total testosterone measurements demonstrating low testosterone levels.”
Meanwhile, up to a third of men who are put on testosterone therapy do not meet the criteria for a medical diagnosis.
The new Pentagon policy comes as issues related to fitness have been front and center of Hegseth’s tenure, with the military services making adjustments to their respective fitness tests and how they measure body fat on troops.
Service members have long had access to testosterone testing and replacement therapy through Tricare, the health insurance program for military personnel and their families. But the screenings have never been part of the military’s annual health assessments, which have traditionally focused on vaccinations, vision and hearing tests, and other routine medical evaluations.
It’s unclear what testosterone levels the Pentagon would find acceptable. It’s also unclear whether troops with lower levels could face professional consequences.
The military already uses medical standards that can affect a service member’s ability to deploy, such as to combat zones. Troops with unresolved dental issues, for example, can be deemed non-deployable, a designation that can limit assignments and, over time, have significant career consequences.
Testosterone levels naturally decrease with age by about 1% each year after age 30, though they do not severely deplete, according to the Endocrine Society.
Among men with age-appropriate testosterone levels, boosting testosterone is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a way to improve strength or athletic performance, according to the Endocrine Society. There is no robust data to suggest it can help as a longevity tool.
Doctors say that more testosterone is not necessarily better. In fact, using testosterone when you do not have a testosterone deficiency can lead to health problems. Potential risks range from mild to severe, including acne, worsening sleep apnea, breast swelling or infertility, studies suggest.
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