WASHINGTON, United States: Pentagon testosterone screening will begin immediately for male active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older under new clinical guidance issued September 2.
The U.S. Department of Defence said the policy establishes standard screening and treatment pathways. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth first announced the testing mandate in July.
Under the guidance, men aged 30 and older must receive testosterone blood tests. Men younger than 30 may receive testing if they request it or if clinicians identify symptoms that warrant evaluation.
The policy takes a different approach for women. It does not require routine testosterone blood tests for female service members. Instead, clinicians will screen women for symptoms such as fatigue and disrupted menstrual cycles.
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The Pentagon said those signs can be associated with low-energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport.
The guidance also outlines limited circumstances for off-label testosterone treatment in women, including certain postmenopausal patients with unusually low sexual desire.
The Pentagon said the program aims to identify hormonal and energy-related health problems that could affect military readiness. However, some doctors have questioned the need for universal screening for healthy men.
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They told Reuters that broad testing could lead to unnecessary treatment and said evidence linking routine testosterone screening to improved combat readiness remains limited.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to convene experts in mid-September to discuss the medical use of testosterone.
