The US Pentagon has introduced a mandatory testosterone deficiency screening programme for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and above, with the policy taking effect immediately.
The new directive, issued on Wednesday, follows an announcement made in July by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon said the policy is designed to improve military readiness by detecting and managing hormonal problems and issues related to energy availability.
Under the new guidance, men aged 30 and older will be required to undergo testosterone blood testing. Men below 30 will only be tested if they request screening or if medical professionals identify symptoms that could indicate a hormonal problem.
The approach for women differs. Routine testosterone blood tests will not be compulsory, but medical personnel will screen women for symptoms such as persistent fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles, which can be linked to hormonal imbalances, low energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport.
The guidance also sets out circumstances in which doctors may prescribe testosterone to women for uses not specifically approved by regulators. This includes postmenopausal women experiencing unusually low sexual desire.
Hegseth has previously advocated testosterone use and announced the screening requirement last month, prompting questions from medical experts about the scientific evidence supporting a broad military-wide testing programme.
The US Food and Drug Administration is expected to convene experts in mid-September to discuss the medical use of testosterone.
Some doctors have expressed concern that widespread testosterone testing could result in unnecessary treatment and potentially expose service members to health risks. They have also questioned whether there is sufficient evidence to show that routinely screening military personnel for low testosterone would actually improve combat readiness.
