Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Pentagon will begin annual testosterone deficiency screenings for service members age 30 and older, describing the initiative as a way to improve military readiness and long-term health. Troops under 30 will be able to request the screening voluntarily.
The new screening will become part of the military’s routine periodic health assessments, which are already used to evaluate deployability and overall medical readiness.
Voluntary treatment
In a video announcing the program, Hegseth said the goal is to ensure service members have “the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.”
“As we know, the modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting,” Hegseth said. “It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness.”
Service members found to have low testosterone will not be required to undergo treatment.
“If treatment is recommended, it’s entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy,” Hegseth said, adding that the initiative is “not about artificial enhancement” but about “restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities.”
Why testosterone matters
Testosterone helps regulate muscle mass, bone strength, energy levels, mood, and sexual function.
Levels naturally decline with age, typically beginning around age 30 or 40. While a gradual drop of about 1% to 2% per year is considered normal, some men experience symptoms that can affect daily life and physical performance.
Low testosterone can affect far more than sexual health. It has been associated with declining muscle mass and bone density, increased abdominal fat, ongoing fatigue, lower stamina, and mood changes such as irritability, difficulty concentrating, and symptoms of depression.
Hegseth said identifying those indicators early could help ensure service members remain physically and mentally prepared for demanding military duties.
Part of broader readiness push
Hegseth said the screenings are intended to help troops remain healthy throughout their military careers and beyond.
“We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world,” he said, describing the program as part of the Defense Department’s broader effort to maintain a physically and mentally ready fighting force.
The announcement follows several other initiatives under Hegseth aimed at emphasizing physical fitness and combat readiness across the armed forces.
Medical experts urge caution
Testosterone levels naturally decline with age, typically beginning in early adulthood and continuing gradually through middle age and beyond.
Medical organizations typically recommend testing only when patients exhibit symptoms of testosterone deficiency, rather than conducting broad population screening. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved testosterone replacement therapy for certain forms of clinically diagnosed hypogonadism but not for routine age-related declines in testosterone.
Some public health experts have questioned widespread screening of otherwise healthy younger adults, arguing that aggressive marketing of testosterone testing and hormone therapy has contributed to unnecessary treatment.
Broader administration focus
The initiative reflects a broader emphasis within the Trump administration on declining testosterone levels among American men.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously spoken publicly about testosterone and hormone therapy as part of his personal health regimen and has argued that declining testosterone levels among younger men warrant greater attention, although some of his broader claims have been questioned by medical experts.
The Pentagon has not yet announced when the screening program will begin or released detailed implementation guidance for military medical providers.
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