What is testosterone screening, and why is the U.S. military introducing it?
The U.S. Department of Defense has announced mandatory annual testosterone screening for all active-duty service members aged 30 and above, as part of routine medical assessments. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated the policy aims to help personnel 'operate at their absolute best.' The move follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' plan to ease restrictions on testosterone replacement therapy for age-related low testosterone. The policy has sparked political debate, with Democratic lawmakers questioning its consistency with military policies affecting transgender personnel receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy. The article explains testosterone's role, deficiency symptoms, and diagnostic guidelines from the Endocrine Society, noting that diagnosis requires both symptoms and confirmed low lab values. The Pentagon maintains the program is intended to improve troop health and readiness.
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