The United States introduces annual testosterone checks for older military personnel

Washington – 16.07.2026: The United States Department of Defense plans annual screenings for testosterone deficiency for armed forces personnel aged 30 and over. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth presented the program on Wednesday, July 15. Younger military personnel will be able to take the test voluntarily. Hegseth links the new preventive measure to the goal of strengthening the health, resilience and operational capability of the troops in the long term.

The blood test will be included in the regular health checks already planned. According to Hegseth, testosterone levels decline in many people as they age. Those with medically confirmed low levels may voluntarily receive testosterone replacement therapy. Participation in such treatment is therefore neither a requirement for service nor an automatic consequence of the test result.

The Department primarily justifies the measure with the demands of military operations. Hegseth said that modern combat situations require physical and psychological resilience. However, the announcement did not publish concrete details on how many members of the armed forces are expected to be affected, which thresholds will be applied, or when the routine examinations will actually begin.

Doctors emphasize that a single laboratory value is not sufficient for a reliable diagnosis. Hormone concentration can vary throughout the day. Experts therefore recommend assessing symptoms and repeatedly measured values together before starting therapy. Testosterone treatments are generally considered when there is a proven deficiency and related health problems, not merely to improve performance.

It also remains unclear how the program will be applied to female service members. In his video message, Hegseth spoke generally about military personnel, but the explanations focused on age-related testosterone levels in men. In response to questions, the Pentagon did not provide further details on possible hormone tests for women or on specific medical procedures in the individual branches of the armed forces.

Democratic senator and Iraq veteran Tammy Duckworth called for hormone medicine offerings to be designed for both sexes. She noted that fertility problems can affect both men and women in the armed forces. Representative Chrissy Houlahan criticized the political message of the initiative. Both are asking the Department of Defense for more precise information on access, criteria and the health consequences of the program.

The announcement comes at a time when Hegseth is placing greater emphasis on physical standards and medical care in the U.S. armed forces. For now, the new procedure is described as health prevention, not as an additional athletic fitness test. It has not yet been determined whether test results will affect the deployment, promotion or operational planning of individual service members.