US Pentagon issues clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately
US Pentagon problems clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately.
US Pentagon problems clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately.
Article outline
- What happened
- What comes next
- Why it matters
- The bottom line
Key points
- The document lays out guidelines for when it is appropriate to prescribe off-label testosterone in women, namely for postmenopausal women with unusually low sexual desire.
- Hegseth, who has promoted the employ of testosterone, unveiled the mandate last month, raising questions among experts regarding whether there was a scientific basis for such a policy.
US Pentagon problems clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately. Reuters Published September 3, 2026 Updated September 3, 2026 11: 01am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.
Notably, the US Pentagon has issued detailed guidance for a new, mandatory testosterone deficiency screening policy for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older, a follow-up to US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's July announcement.
In practice, the guidance, which was issued on Wednesday and is effective immediately, establishes standardised screening and treatment pathways for men and women that the Pentagon notes are aimed at improving military readiness by identifying and managing hormonal and energy-availability matters.
Hegseth, who has promoted the employ of testosterone, unveiled the mandate last month, raising questions among experts regarding whether there was a scientific basis for such a policy. The US Food and Drug Administration intends to hold a gathering of experts to discuss the medical employ of testosterone in mid-September.
While younger men will be tested only on request or if clinicians identify warning signs, according to the guidance, men aged 30 and older will receive mandatory testosterone blood tests.
For women, the guidance does not mandate routine testosterone blood tests, but it calls for screening for fatigue and disrupted menstrual cycles that can be associated with hormonal dysregulation and conditions called low-energy availability and relative energy deficiency in sport.
Notably, the document lays out guidelines for when it is appropriate to prescribe off-label testosterone in women, namely for postmenopausal women with unusually low sexual desire.
Doctors have triggered concern that broad testosterone testing could lead to unnecessary or potentially harmful treatment, saying there is little evidence that universal screening for low testosterone among military personnel would improve US combat readiness.
Taken together, the developments around US Pentagon issues clinical guidelines on troop testosterone screening to start immediately point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.
