Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone
WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth He said on Wednesday he was launching a new screening program for “testosterone deficiency” among soldiers, saying it was necessary to allow them to function at their “absolute best”.
The new screenings will be performed annually as part of required medical screenings for service members ages 30 and older, he said. Troops under 30 can volunteer to be tested. In a video posted on social media, Hegseth only talks about soldiers, but it appears he’s only talking about testing men in uniform for hormone irregularities.
The move comes as other Trump administration officials have begun advocating for men to have easier access to testosterone replacement therapies, but the messages from Hegseth and others blend known science about the hormone with broader, less substantiated claims.
When asked what conditions Hegseth wanted to address with the new policy, the Pentagon cited Hegseth’s remarks in the video, which talked about keeping troops “strong, resilient and capable” and that the challenges of the modern battlefield require “maximum psychological and mental preparedness.”
The Pentagon will not present the specific conditions or diseases targeted by the policy. Hegseth said in his video that taking testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary.
Over the past few years, special operations troops — and Navy SEALs in particular — have come under scrutiny for using testosterone and similar substances to enhance performance.
Death of a SEAL officer During training in 2022, it led to the discovery of his possession of substances, including testosterone, revealing far more widespread drug use in the elite program than previously acknowledged.
A year after the recruit’s death, the Navy said it would be done. starting a drug testing program Screening for “any hormonal substance chemically or pharmacologically related to testosterone that promotes muscle growth.”
Hegseth said his new initiative is “not about artificial enhancement.”
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about what research or academic studies supported this move. It also did not specify whether female troops would be screened for reduced estrogen levels as they entered perimenopause.
Testosterone levels in men naturally decline with age and have long been associated with problems such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, mood swings and weight gain. But experts have debated for years how to diagnose these problems and whether they should be treated with hormone replacement.
Hegseth’s announcement was followed by Surgeon General Robert F. Kennedy Jr. It comes as Trump and other Trump administration officials are moving to make it easier for doctors to prescribe testosterone. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration proposed easing prescription limits on testosterone gels, pills, patches and injections.
The current FDA label states that the drugs are only for men with hypogonadism, a medical condition that causes testosterone to be too low.
But many influencers and advocates of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement tout testosterone as a way to look younger, build muscle, and stay mentally fit—though these uses are not accepted by most medical professionals.
Still, while recent research supports testosterone’s benefits for certain conditions, it has eased concerns about its safety, particularly concerns about heart safety.
Last year, the FDA removed a boxed warning about possible risks of heart attack and stroke from the drugs.
Separately, a series of studies in older men by the National Institutes of Health found that taking testosterone improved erectile dysfunction, libido and other sexual measures, and had a small effect on mood. But there was little or no improvement in other measures, such as fatigue, memory, or overall well-being.
Other studies have shown potential improvements in muscle building, strength, and bone density.
However, current medical guidelines generally advise against comprehensive testing of testosterone levels. Typically, doctors are advised to discuss testosterone therapy with men who have bothersome symptoms and have documented low levels of the hormone in two separate blood tests.
Testing testosterone is difficult because hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day. Accurate testosterone measurements are usually taken the morning after fasting.
