Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military will begin screening service members for “testosterone deficiency” to ensure that troops have the right hormonal levels to perform at their “absolute best.”
In a statement on X, titled “The High-T Department of War,” Secretary Hegseth confirms that active-duty members aged 30 or older will receive the screening as part of their regular annual periodic health assessment.
Service members under the age of 30 can also decide to get tested for “testosterone deficiency” as well.
“If treatment is recommended, it’s entirely your choice to receive Testosterone Replacement Therapy [(TRT)],” Secretary Hegseth affirmed.
“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, previously citing “well-established science” that confirms that as men get older, “Testosterone levels often naturally drop.”
All screenings will be performed under the supervision of the Department of Defense’s “world-class medical professionals.”
Will Women Receive Treatment?
In his statement, Secretary Hegseth did not disclose which levels of testosterone would require treatment, nor whether women would be eligible for the program.
Both men and women produce testosterone. The hormone, which is naturally much higher in men, helps them grow hair, get height, and develop muscle mass. For women, the hormone helps maintain their energy levels and bone strength.
HHS & FDA Work To Make TRT Accessible
Secretary Hegseth’s announcement comes as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have begun efforts “to advance treatment options for men’s health” by making TRT products more accessible.
In Apr. 2026, the FDA announced an initiative “encouraging sponsors of approved [TRT] products to contact [the] FDA for information” on how to make their products available for men who produce less testosterone.
In June 2026, HHS and the FDA announced requests for updates to prescribing information for TRT products in response to “new clinical data and existing scientific evidence.”
