US military to begin testosterone screening for service members aged 30 and older

The US military will begin screening active duty and reserve personnel aged 30 and older for testosterone deficiency, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The program takes effect immediately and is being presented as part of an effort to restore and optimise troop capabilities. Service members under 30 will be able to request testing.

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Hegseth announced the policy in a video posted on X, where he said the aim was to ensure troops have the right testosterone levels to operate at their best. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the mandatory screening will apply to all active duty and reserve component personnel aged 30 and older. He said the protocol is intended to establish a comprehensive baseline and allow targeted testosterone therapy where needed.

Under the new approach, troops found to have low levels may be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy. Hegseth said the initiative is not about artificial enhancement, and the military already prohibits taking testosterone for non-medical reasons such as muscle enhancement without a doctor's prescription. The policy therefore sits within existing rules on performance and medical treatment, rather than replacing them.

The announcement is significant because it places hormone screening inside a broader debate over military readiness, long-term health and medical standards for service members. Hegseth framed the move as part of providing the best possible medical care to what he called the nation's warriors. The Pentagon's language also linked the programme to the idea of building a healthy, capable and decisive fighting force.

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The policy comes as some figures in the Trump administration have pushed for wider access to testosterone therapies. That adds a political dimension to what is otherwise being described as a medical screening programme. It also raises questions about how the military will balance readiness, health monitoring and the risks of treatment in a force that includes both active duty and reserve personnel.

A US Food and Drug Administration expert panel last year examined screening and testosterone use in the military, and Dr Mohit Khera, who led that panel, said men over 30 should be screened because testosterone is a key marker of current and future health. He said low levels can affect muscle mass and energy, which may matter in combat, but warned against giving testosterone without symptoms. What remains unclear is how the screening will be implemented in practice, how many service members may be affected, and how the military will decide who is offered therapy next.

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