US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone screening for military personnel aged 30 and older. In a video posted on X, Hegseth said he is rolling out the program to ensure troops "have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best." The tests will be integrated into the required annual health assessments for service members aged 30 and over, while remaining optional for those under 30. Troops diagnosed with low testosterone levels will be offered voluntary hormone replacement therapy, according to Hegseth. In his announcement, the defense secretary referred only to “troops” and did not specify whether the screenings would also apply to women. Taking testosterone for non-medical purposes, such as muscle enhancement, is strictly prohibited in the US military. In the social media video, Hegseth claimed that the new programme was “not about artificial enhancement, ” but rather about providing “elite medical care” to service members. The announcement comes as other Trump administration officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., push to make access to testosterone easier. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed easing prescription limits on testosterone pills, gels, patches and injections.
Pete Hegseth said the U.S. military will begin testing the testosterone levels of troops 30 and older, telling service members the screening measure is another way to "optimize your performance."
