Pete Hegseth says soldiers over age 30 to be screened for testosterone deficiency | US military
Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense will offer testosterone deficiency screening for service members ages 30 and older.
The US defense secretary has announced plans for a new screening program for testosterone deficiency among soldiers. video sent to x
“I am authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the correct testosterone levels so you can function at your best,” Hegseth said in the video.
“The modern battlefield, as we know, is brutal and unforgiving,” he added. “It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental preparation, and by addressing these health markers early, we keep you on the front lines of lethality and provide the same support you give to this country: the absolute best support.”
Hegseth said “warriors” aged 30 and over will undergo annual testing as part of their health evaluations, while those under 30 can participate in these tests. Treatment, including testosterone replacement therapy, is voluntary and aims to “restore and optimize” natural abilities.
The initiative will prioritize long-term health, aiming to ensure soldiers remain “strong and resilient” throughout their lives. Hegseth also said this program is part of the department’s commitment to providing “elite medical care” and maintaining the physical and mental readiness needed for modern warfare.
Hegseth is not the first member of the Trump administration to address the so-called low testosterone “crisis,” or “low T.” Health Minister Robert F Kennedy Jr, 72, has spoken of injecting testosterone as part of his personal “anti-aging regime”. In October, he warned, without evidence, that today’s young Americans “have 50% of the testosterone of a 65-year-old man.”
Young men are being aggressively targeted online by influencers and wellness companies promoting hormone tests and treatments to become a “real man,” despite the fact that screening for low testosterone in most people in this age group is medically unwarranted, according to research published in the journal Social Science and Medicine.
