The US Department of Defense is planning to integrate annual testosterone deficiency screenings for service members as part of routine health assessments.
Revealed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the evaluation will be implemented for warfighters aged 30 and older. Service members under 30 may also request the test, with voluntary testosterone replacement therapy available if doctors recommend treatment.
“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.
Testosterone levels typically decline with age, and clinically low levels can contribute to fatigue, obesity, muscle loss, reduced bone density, and other health conditions.
Reinforcing ‘Biological Foundation’
Hegseth specified that the move is intended to boost readiness and long-term health rather than enhance performance artificially.
“It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight,” he said.
The check-up will be incorporated into the military’s Periodic Health Assessment, a standardized process conducted annually to track soldiers’ physical status.
The Pentagon did not reveal the schedule of the project’s activation or whether female service members will receive similar hormone diagnostics.
The announcement follows a broader push by the Trump administration to expand access to testosterone replacement therapy.
Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. has backed wider availability of the treatment, while the Food and Drug Administration has proposed easing prescribing restrictions.
