The U.S. military will begin testing the testosterone levels of some service members and recommending hormone therapy if needed, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday.
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The new policy comes amid a larger push by the Trump administration to promote and expand public access to testosterone replacement therapies.
“Under the supervision of our world-class medical professionals, war fighters age 30 and older are going to be tested annually as part of their periodic health assessment,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X captioned: “The High-T Department of War.”
The test would take place as part of the regular annual health assessment. Service members younger than 30 can voluntarily get their testosterone levels tested as well, Hegseth said.
He added that if the medical team recommends treatment for a service member, it would be that individual’s decision whether to receive testosterone replacement therapy.
“This initiative — it’s not about artificial enhancement; it’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight,” Hegseth said.
He framed the annual screening test as part of an investment in “the individual warfighter,” calling the service members “our most decisive tactical advantage.” He argued that it was a “sacred duty” to keep the advantage, explaining that the department looks for ways to improve service members’ health and performance.
“And to meet that commitment today, I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best,” Hegseth said in the video.
The Defense Department declined to say whether there would be estrogen screenings for female service members and if there would be repercussions for service members who declined the recommended testosterone treatment, instead referring NBC News to Hegseth’s video.
Men’s testosterone levels decline naturally starting when they are in their 30s or 40s. If the levels fall below a certain threshold, they can be associated with health issues such as lower bone density and erectile dysfunction.
Trump administration health officials have expressed support for widening the availability of testosterone therapy for men. The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., proposed earlier this month to loosen restrictions on the therapy. The move came after a Food and Drug Administration panel in December called for regulatory changes to make testosterone therapy more accessible.
Kennedy has previously said that he was taking testosterone replacements, which he said were “appropriate for my age.”
Since 2015, testosterone replacement therapies have carried warning labels and have only been available to men who have both low testosterone and an associated medical condition. Although some past research has linked the therapy to strokes, heart attacks and death, a 2023 study known as the TRAVERSE trial found that testosterone replacement therapy did not increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Health officials in the Trump administration have also touted the potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy for women. The FDA last year removed black box warnings on these therapies for menopause.
