Hegseth Orders Annual Testosterone Screening for U.S. Military Personnel Aged 30 and Over

Herz — World Desk · 18 July 2026 at 17:28 · 30s summary · 3 min read

Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, ordered this week an annual testosterone deficiency screening for all active-duty military personnel and reservists aged 30 and over. Any resulting treatment, he clarified, will be voluntary and accompanied by medical counseling.

What We Know

According to The Guardian, Hegseth justified the measure by emphasizing the need to ensure combat readiness and improve soldier resilience, longevity, and performance.

He also cited the fight against "operator syndrome," a documented condition affecting U.S. special operations forces—Delta Force and Navy SEALs—that includes a testosterone deficit.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the measure beyond its brief official statement.

Testosterone and Age: What the Science Says

Testosterone levels naturally decline beginning around age 30, at a rate of approximately 1% per year between ages 30 and 40, before accelerating with age. However, this decline varies considerably among individuals, according to Dr. Haleem Mohammed.

Dr. Steven Nissen of the Cleveland Clinic conducted a study of more than 5,200 men aged 45 to 80 with low testosterone and elevated cardiovascular risk. Those results led the FDA—the U.S. drug regulatory agency—to remove the warning about heart attack and stroke risk from testosterone medication labels.

However, that same study revealed higher rates of atrial arrhythmia—fibrillation or flutter—and bone fractures among participants. Dr. Nissen considers these effects potentially concerning in a military context.

Medical Experts Raise Concerns

Five of six male health experts contacted by Reuters expressed concern about this order and worry it could lead to unnecessary or even harmful treatments.

Four of the six physicians assert there is no solid evidence that systematic testosterone screening of all military personnel aged 30 and over would optimize combat readiness.

The American Urological Association and the Endocrine Society recommend testosterone supplementation only for patients presenting both a confirmed deficiency and documented symptoms. These symptoms include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, fatigue, loss of muscle mass, or low bone density.

Documented Side Effects

Testosterone therapy can cause testicular atrophy with potentially irreversible infertility—a risk considered particularly concerning for young military personnel not yet having started families, according to Dr. McVary. Other documented side effects include blood thickening, prostate problems, acne, hair loss, gynecomastia, and mood instability.

Within a Context of Controversial Health Policy Reforms

This measure is part of a series of health policy changes under the Trump administration. Hegseth previously canceled the military's flu vaccination mandate—a decision itself abandoned following a flu outbreak. The HHS (Department of Health and Human Services) has also removed 17 members from its vaccine advisory committee and modified its vaccine recommendations.