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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that he will launch a new program to test for “testosterone deficiency” among soldiers, calling it necessary to allow them to work “at their best.”
The new test will be conducted annually as part of a mandatory health checkup for service members age 30 and older, he said. Soldiers under the age of 30 can volunteer for testing.
In a video released on social media, Hegseth only talks about the military, although it seems he's only talking about checking men in uniform for hormones.
The move comes as some Trump administration officials have begun advocating for men to have easier access to testosterone replacement therapy, but the message from Hegseth and others combines the known science of the hormone with broad claims, with little evidence.
When asked what conditions Hegseth wanted to address with the new policy, the Pentagon referred to Hegseth's words in the video about keeping the military “strong, resilient and capable” and that the rigors of the modern battlefield demand “greater mental and emotional readiness.”
The Pentagon would not provide specific conditions or illnesses targeted by the policy. In his video, Hegseth said receiving testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary.
Increased scrutiny
In the past few years, special operations forces – and particularly the US Navy SEALs – have come under scrutiny for their use of testosterone and similar substances to enhance performance.
The death of a SEAL recruit during training in 2022 led to the discovery of his possessions, including testosterone, and revealed more widespread drug use among the elite program than previously acknowledged.
A year after the recruit's death, the US Navy said it would begin a drug testing program to test for “any hormonal substance, chemically or pharmacologically related to testosterone, that promotes muscle growth.”
Hegseth said his new plan is “not about artificial development.”
The Pentagon did not respond to questions about whether research or academic studies supported the move. It also did not say whether female soldiers would be able to be tested for lower estrogen as they enter menopause.
Testosterone levels in men naturally decline with age and have long been linked to issues such as erectile dysfunction, low libido, mood swings and weight gain. But experts have debated for years about how to diagnose those problems and whether they should be treated with hormone replacement.
The FDA is proposing to lower certain prescription limits
Hegseth's announcement comes as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other Trump administration officials are trying to make it easier for doctors to prescribe testosterone. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed to reduce the prescription limits for testosterone gels, pills, patches and injections.
The current FDA label specifies that the medication is only for men with hypogonadism, a medical condition that causes a significant decrease in testosterone.
But many advocates and supporters of Kennedy's “Make America Healthy Again” movement are promoting testosterone as a way to look younger, build muscle and stay mentally sharp – even though that use is not accepted by many medical professionals.
However, recent research has strengthened the case for the benefits of testosterone, for certain conditions, while reducing concerns about its safety – particularly concerns about cardiovascular safety.
Last year, the FDA removed a boxed warning about the potential risks of heart attack and stroke from the drug.
Separately, a series of studies by the National Institutes of Health in older men found that taking testosterone improved erectile dysfunction, libido and other sexual measures and had little 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 mass, strength and bone density.
However, current medical guidelines generally recommend against blanket testing of testosterone levels. In general, doctors are advised to discuss testosterone therapy with men who have worrisome symptoms and record low levels of the hormone in two separate blood tests.
Testosterone testing is challenging because hormone levels fluctuate throughout the day. Accurate testosterone readings are usually measured in the morning after fasting.
