Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency issued new guidance on September 2, 2026, requiring annual clinical screening for hormonal dysregulation in female service members during the Periodic Health Assessment. The directive addresses conditions like RED-S, perimenopause, and menopause, using validated screening tools. For women aged 35 and older with symptoms, providers must refer them to midlife-transition specialists or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub. This expands on previous mandatory testosterone testing for male service members.
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Reports are grouped by semantic similarity and deterministic rules. Language models may assist titles, summaries, translation and cross-source analysis; the page itself is projected from evidence records.
- Current automated evidence projection
Cross-source coverage
Wire timeline
Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) issued new clinical guidance on September 2, 2026, establishing a hormone-screening pathway for female service members. Signed by DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin Via, the directive requires annual clinical screening for hormonal dysregulation during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). The guidance addresses conditions such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), perimenopause, and menopause. It outlines clinical pathways for symptoms including fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and menstrual irregularities. Unlike mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and older, the female pathway begins with a clinical screen rather than a blood test. The guidance includes validated screening tools like the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and the IOC's RED-S Clinical Assessment Tool. For women aged 35 and older with perimenopause or menopause symptoms, providers are directed to refer them to midlife-transition specialists or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub. Treatment focuses on correcting energy deficits through dietary adjustments and reduced training volume, with psychological support when needed.
Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) issued new guidance on September 2, 2026, establishing a hormone-screening pathway for female service members. Signed by DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin Via, the directive requires annual clinical screening for hormonal dysregulation during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). The guidance addresses conditions such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), perimenopause, and menopause. It outlines clinical pathways for evaluation, including validated screening tools like the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and the IOC's RED-S Clinical Assessment Tool. For women aged 35 and older with perimenopause or menopause symptoms, providers are directed to refer to midlife-transition specialists or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub. Treatment focuses on correcting energy deficits through dietary adjustments and reduced training, with psychological support when needed. The guidance differs from mandatory testosterone testing for male service members, instead using a clinical screening approach for women.
Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) issued new guidance on September 2, 2026, establishing a hormone-screening pathway for female service members. Signed by DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin Via, the directive requires annual clinical screening for hormonal dysregulation during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). It addresses conditions such as menstrual irregularities, fatigue, perimenopause, and menopause. The guidance also includes screening for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which can be caused by military operational demands and fitness standards. RED-S assessment uses validated tools like the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and the IOC's RED-S Clinical Assessment Tool, placing service members into four risk categories. For women aged 35 and older with perimenopause or menopause symptoms affecting duty or quality of life, providers must refer them to midlife-transition specialists or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub. Treatment focuses on correcting energy deficits through dietary changes, reduced training, and psychological support when needed. This expands on previous mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and older.
Show 2 older updatesHide older updates
Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) issued new guidance on September 2, 2026, establishing a hormone-screening pathway for female service members. Signed by DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin Via, the directive requires providers to conduct annual clinical screens for hormonal dysregulation during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). The guidance addresses conditions such as Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), menstrual irregularities, fatigue, perimenopause, and menopause. Unlike mandatory testosterone testing for male troops aged 30 and older, the female pathway begins with a clinical screen. If RED-S is suspected, validated screening tools and blood tests may be ordered. For women aged 35 and older with perimenopause or menopause symptoms affecting duty or quality of life, referral to a midlife-transition specialist or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub is directed. The guidance aims to improve operational readiness by addressing hormonal health issues that can impair performance and bone health.
Pentagon expands hormone screening guidance to include female service members
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) issued new guidance on September 2, 2026, establishing a hormone-screening pathway for female service members. Signed by DHA Director Vice Adm. Darin Via, the directive requires annual clinical screening for hormonal dysregulation during the Periodic Health Assessment (PHA). It addresses conditions such as menstrual irregularities, fatigue, perimenopause, and menopause. The guidance also includes screening for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S), which can be caused by military operational demands and fitness standards. RED-S assessment uses validated tools like the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire and the IOC's RED-S Clinical Assessment Tool, placing service members into risk categories from low to high. For women aged 35 and older with perimenopause or menopause symptoms affecting duties or quality of life, providers must refer them to a midlife-transition specialist or the DHA's Midlife Telehealth Hub. Treatment focuses on correcting energy deficits through diet and training adjustments, with psychological support when needed. This expands on previous mandatory testosterone testing for male service members aged 30 and older.