Pentagon Orders Testosterone Screening for Troops

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered annual testosterone-deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older, according to multiple reports. The mandate, announced this week, aims to maintain military readiness by ensuring troops have the right testosterone levels to operate at their best. However, many medical professionals warn that the policy might do nothing of the sort and could instead increase service members' risk of infertility or other consequences if testosterone is prescribed inappropriately.

The mandate is one of several recent healthcare policy changes implemented by Hegseth and other Trump administration cabinet officials. According to Reuters, five of six men’s health experts contacted for the story expressed concern that the announcement on testosterone testing may lead to unnecessary or even harmful treatment. The American Urological Association and the Endocrine Society advise testosterone supplementation only for patients with confirmed testosterone deficiency and specific symptoms such as reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, decreased muscle mass, and low bone density.

Hegseth said testing would be accompanied by advice to help soldiers make decisions about treatment, which would be voluntary. The goals, he added, are to ensure troops have the right testosterone levels to operate at their absolute best and to improve their resilience, longevity, and performance. However, four of the six doctors interviewed by Reuters stated 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.

The Pentagon has not provided detailed guidance on how abnormal test results will be evaluated or whether screenings will apply equally to males and females. According to Al Jazeera, the screening program is part of Hegseth's efforts to reshape the military around physical standards and what he describes as a warrior ethos. The announcement has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who linked it to Hegseth’s opposition to transgender service members.

Medical experts have raised concerns about the potential risks of testosterone therapy, including infertility, blood thickening, prostate issues, acne, hair loss, breast tissue growth, and mood volatility. According to The Guardian, Dr. Kevin McVary, a urologist on the medical advisory board of Rugiet, noted that many in the armed forces are young men who are not done having their families. “If you just dole out the testosterone, the testes will shrink. And you can’t reliably count on them coming back,” he said.

The mandate has also been criticized for its potential to perpetuate gender stereotypes and exclude women from combat roles. According to Salon, Hegseth’s hostility to women in the military is well-documented, and his new insistence that high testosterone levels are necessary to do the job sends an unmistakable message: that women are categorically unable to serve as “warfighters.” The announcement has been met with skepticism from medical professionals and lawmakers alike, who question its scientific basis and potential implications for military personnel.