Pentagon Mandates Annual Testosterone Tests for Service Members Over 30
U. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Department of Defense to add annual testosterone deficiency testing for service members aged 30 and older. PBS reported that the policy was presented as a readiness measure and would screen active-duty personnel for low testosterone while offering hormone replacement therapy. CBS noted that the tests would become a mandatory component of routine health assessments for those 31 and older, with treatment optional. BBC added that the program also covered reserve members and left the applicability to women unclear.
Around the same time, Fortune reported that the FDA was proposing label changes to broaden testosterone prescribing, noting that only about 12 % of current prescriptions met strict medical criteria. Medical experts subsequently voiced concerns. CBS quoted doctors saying the annual screenings lacked scientific support, could waste funds and expose patients to unnecessary risks. BBC later reported that Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the mandate and confirmed the optional therapy provision. Further commentary from BBC and The Guardian highlighted worries about potential misdiagnoses, infertility and logistical challenges, with specialists such as Marty Makary and the American Urological Association questioning the evidence base.
