Home / War and Conflict / Pentagon Mandates Testosterone Screening for Male Troops Over 30
Pentagon Mandates Testosterone Screening for Male Troops Over 30
19 Sep
Summary
- Male service members over age 30 will undergo mandatory testosterone screening.
- Screening involves symptom assessment and two morning fasting blood tests.
- The guidance aims to improve warfighter health and maximize force readiness.
The Department of Defense has released new mandatory guidance for screening male service members over the age of 30 for testosterone deficiency. This directive applies to both active duty and reserve personnel. The aim is to uniformly screen and treat individuals with suboptimal hormone levels across the Defense Health Agency enterprise, strengthening warfighter health and maximizing force readiness.
Under the new clinical practice guidelines, all male service members exceeding 30 years of age will receive a comprehensive symptom and risk assessment. Those younger than 30 may be screened upon request. The testing protocol involves measuring testosterone levels on two separate mornings, after fasting, and includes additional blood tests for luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone.
Guidance concerning female service members, which previously addressed fatigue and disrupted menstrual cycles, is currently under review and will be issued separately. This recent directive follows an earlier, temporarily rescinded draft that had been inadvertently posted online. The Department emphasizes its commitment to investing in the health of its service members through proactive health measures.
