Pentagon Reinstates Mandatory Testosterone Screening for Male Service Members Over 30

The Pentagon released new directives on Thursday requiring testosterone deficiency screenings for male service members aged 30 and older in both active duty and reserve components. This move comes approximately two weeks after the Department of Defense temporarily removed similar protocols from its official website.

The previously withdrawn guidelines had also outlined recommendations for female service members, suggesting they be questioned about fatigue and irregular menstrual cycles potentially linked to hormonal imbalances. No explanation was provided for the earlier deletion, but a senior adviser to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described the incident as an error, stating the documents had been mistakenly posted in draft form.

“This guidance addresses male testosterone deficiency, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways across the DHA enterprise and assigning responsibility for compliance,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement regarding the new guidelines. “By proactively identifying and treating suboptimal hormone levels, the Department continues to invest in the health of its warfighters, strengthen their performance, and maximize force readiness.”

Under the updated clinical practice guidelines, all male service members over the age of 30 will undergo a structured symptom and risk assessment. Those under 30 may qualify for screening if they request it.

The protocol requires blood tests to measure testosterone levels on two separate mornings while the service member is fasting. The follow-up draw will include a panel for luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are critical reproductive hormones produced by the pituitary gland. If total testosterone levels fall within the normal range, free testosterone levels will also be analyzed. Total testosterone includes both protein-bound and unbound hormone circulating in the body, whereas free testosterone refers only to the biologically active portion not bound to proteins.

The Thursday posting indicated that guidelines for female service members are currently under review and will be published upon approval.

This development follows an announcement earlier this year by Hegseth directing annual testosterone checks for troops, marking a notable shift in military health policy. Low testosterone has become a growing concern within the armed forces, particularly among special operations personnel where extreme physical exertion, high stress, and insufficient caloric intake can negatively affect hormone levels, although research in this area remains ongoing.

According to the American Urological Association (AUA), between 4.0 million and 13.8 million men in the United States had testosterone deficiency as of 2023. The exact prevalence is difficult to determine due to varying diagnostic thresholds. The condition is most prevalent in older men and those with diabetes or obesity.

Some medical professionals caution that the online prominence of “low-T” may exaggerate the scope of the problem. While testing and prescribing rates have tripled in recent years, the AUA notes that up to 25% of men receiving testosterone therapy do not have their levels properly measured. The association estimates that nearly one-third of men placed on such therapy do not meet the medical criteria for diagnosis, which requires both symptoms and at least two separate early-morning total testosterone measurements confirming low levels.

Service members have historically had access to testosterone testing and replacement therapy through Tricare, the military health insurance program. However, these screenings were not previously included in the annual health assessments, which traditionally focus on vaccinations, vision, and hearing tests. It remains unclear what testosterone levels the Pentagon will consider acceptable or whether lower readings could result in professional repercussions for troops.