Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 17
Hegseth Orders Testosterone Screening for Troops 30+ as Pentagon Offers Voluntary Therapy
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jul 17

Hegseth Orders Testosterone Screening for Troops 30+ as Pentagon Offers Voluntary Therapy

3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jul 17

Summary

  • Annual military health checks will now include testosterone-deficiency screening for all service members aged 30 and older, under a new Pentagon policy announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
  • Troops found to have low levels will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy, while personnel under 30 can choose to be tested.
  • The Pentagon has not said whether hormone replacement therapy will also be available to women, leaving part of the policy's scope unclear.
  • The move follows a broader Trump administration push to make testosterone prescriptions easier for men and reflects Hegseth's stated aim of a more "manly" military.

Insights

Is the military's new testosterone program treating a deficiency or creating a new class of chemically-enhanced warfighters?
Will this policy create a generation of veterans dependent on hormone therapy long after their service ends?