Pentagon Reissues Testosterone Screening Rules for Male Troops 30+, Limiting Program After Questions
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 18
Pentagon Reissues Testosterone Screening Rules for Male Troops 30+, Limiting Program After Questions
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Sep 18
Summary
Male service members aged 30 and older will be screened for testosterone deficiency at entry or annual exams under republished Pentagon guidance, with voluntary replacement therapy offered for confirmed low levels.
The updated rules narrow the program to men only for now, require testing on two separate days, and bar tests within 30 days of extreme training, sleep deprivation or illness to reduce distorted results.
The guidance also concedes limits: symptoms overlap with military stress and calorie deficits, and evidence does not support testosterone therapy for energy, vitality, physical function or cognition.
Side-effect warnings in the patient sheet include thicker blood and reduced fertility, saying testosterone can shut down sperm production and is not a performance enhancer for troops with normal levels.
The policy, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July, has drawn criticism from physicians who say routine screening without symptoms is unusual and that higher testosterone does not necessarily mean better strength or health.