Pentagon Restarts Testosterone Screening for Troops

The Pentagon is reinstating mandatory testing for testosterone deficiency among US service members aged 30 and older after temporarily pausing the program earlier this month.

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

Under the policy announced at the time, women were also to be screened through a questionnaire and could then receive treatment for conditions related to hormonal imbalances.

In early September, the Pentagon temporarily rescinded its published medical guidance for the screening program “to allow for updates”.

The latest decision lifts that pause, allowing testing to proceed. It is not yet clear what, if any, changes have been made to the original policy.

“Effective immediately, this guidance addresses male testosterone deficiency, establishing uniform screening and treatment pathways”, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.

Medical experts have described widespread testosterone screening as unnecessary and potentially harmful. They have warned that testosterone, if prescribed inappropriately, could increase the risk of infertility or lead to other health complications.

(Reuters, max)