Pentagon reinstates testosterone screening for male service members aged 30 and over

Washington, United States. The Pentagon has reinstated mandatory testing for testosterone deficiency among male US service members aged 30 and older, reviving a programme that medical experts have described as unnecessary and potentially harmful.

The guidance takes immediate effect and sets uniform screening and treatment pathways for male personnel. Separate guidance for female service members is to be issued later.

Screening requirements

The new guidance requires testosterone testing during periodic health assessments and annual physical examinations for male service members aged 30 and above.

Younger male personnel may be screened if they request testing or if it is clinically indicated, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

“Effective immediately, this guidance addresses male testosterone deficiency, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways,” Parnell said.

Previous guidance

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has promoted testosterone use as a way to improve military readiness, first announced the screening mandate in July.

An earlier version of the guidance also provided for women to be screened through a questionnaire, with potential treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalances. The Pentagon temporarily rescinded that version in early September to allow for updates. It was not immediately clear what changes were made.

Medical and regulatory context

Medical professionals have warned that inappropriate testosterone prescribing could increase the risk of infertility and cause other health consequences for service members.

The revised approach follows changes in the US Food and Drug Administration’s position on testosterone therapy for men. Last year, the FDA removed a boxed warning on increased cardiovascular risk from testosterone products for men after reviewing post-marketing studies, although the products continue to carry warnings about increased blood pressure.

In June, the FDA asked manufacturers to remove language stating that the safety and effectiveness of testosterone replacement had not been established for men with age-related hypogonadism, following a review of newer evidence. Testosterone products remain FDA-approved for men with low testosterone linked to an underlying medical condition.

No FDA-approved testosterone product exists for women. Medical groups generally recommend testosterone for women mainly to treat persistently low sexual desire associated with menopause, while saying evidence is insufficient for broader uses, including improving energy, cognition or muscle mass.