Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement Wednesday that military members 30 and up must undergo annual testosterone screenings has raised questions about the testing process and potential testosterone replacement therapy for those with lower levels of the hormone.
Hegseth said in his announcement that the new required screenings for testosterone — the primary male sex hormone — would occur during service members’ annual Periodic Health Assessments, and that troops under 30 will be able to request a testosterone screening as part of their assessment.
The new policy follows several other fitness-related changes made within the military services during Hegseth’s tenure as secretary, which have so far included adjustments to physical fitness tests and how the military measures body composition.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth makes an announcement about mandatory annual testosterone screening for troops 30 years old or above, an initiative he said was aimed at combating testosterone deficiency that can undermine health, in this screen grab taken from a handout video from an unknown location, released on July 15, 2026.
Secretary Of Defense Pete Hegseth/X via via Reuters
Below, read what you should know about testosterone testing in light of Hegseth’s announcement.
What are the symptoms of low testosterone?
Some 2% of men in the United States have low testosterone, according to the American Urological Association.
Symptoms of low testosterone include decreased sexual desire, decreased erections, low mood, decreased intellectual activity and spatial orientation, fatigue, depression, and anger. It can also cause increased body fat with associated decreases in muscle volume and strength, decreased body hair, and decreased bone density resulting in osteoporosis or weakening of bones, according to StatPearls, an online medical resource published by the National Library of Medicine.
Testosterone therapy may help reduce these symptoms and has been found in clinical trials to help significantly improve libido, anemia, bone density, lean body mass, depression, and erectile function, StatPearls states.
How do you test for low testosterone?
Diagnosing low testosterone relies on a straightforward blood test measuring total testosterone — both “bound” and “free” (or “unbound”) — according to MedlinePlus, an online health resource run by the National Library of Medicine.
“Bound” testosterone is testosterone that is bound to proteins in the blood, while “free” testosterone is not; the latter is “more available for your body to use when building bones and muscles,” MedlinePlus states, while bound testosterone is harder for the body to use.
“This is necessary for your health. Having most of your testosterone bound to proteins makes sure your body doesn’t use too much,” it notes.
Both the timing and consistency of a testosterone screening are critical for an accurate result, according to the American Urological Association.
Because testosterone levels naturally peak in the early morning and fluctuate daily based on factors like sleep and stress, clinical standards require at least two separate blood draws, both performed between 7 and 10 a.m., to officially confirm a true deficiency, according to MedlinePlus.
“I think it’s really important to get a baseline level,” Helen L. Bernie, DO, MPH, director of male sexual and reproductive medicine at Indiana University and an associate professor of urology, told ABC News.
Bernie, who is not associated with the U.S. military, said knowing that baseline could make patients aware of a wide variety of health issues stemming from low testosterone levels.
“We know testosterone is an important biomarker for a man’s overall health. So, if a man truly has low testosterone, or what we call testosterone deficiency, it can affect their energy levels” she said.
Females also produce testosterone, but at a much lower level than men. Low testosterone levels in females can be a sign of adrenal and pituitary gland disorders or an ovary disorder, according to MedlinePlus.
What is testosterone replacement therapy?
Testosterone replacement therapy, or TRT, is a prescription medical treatment aimed at safely restoring hormone levels back to a normal, healthy range, for those diagnosed with a testosterone deficiency, according to StatPearls.
It is highly customized to the patient and typically delivered via daily topical gels, regular injections, or slow-release subcutaneous pellets, with the ultimate goal of reversing clinical symptoms like persistent fatigue, mood changes, muscle loss, and low libido, according to StatPearls.
Bernie stressed that low levels during a testosterone screening do not automatically indicate a need for testosterone replacement therapy.
“Really, just a low testosterone result should be the beginning of an evaluation,” she said, noting other factors to consider include symptoms and any reversible causes that may be responsible for the low levels.
“The goal is to restore someone’s testosterone to a normal physiologic range and improve symptoms. It’s not simply just to raise the laboratory value,” she added.
Is increased testosterone good for longevity?
There is no robust data to suggest boosting testosterone can help as a longevity tool.
Among men with age-appropriate testosterone levels, boosting testosterone is also not approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a way to improve strength or athletic performance, according to the Endocrine Society.
Doctors say that more testosterone is not necessarily better. In fact, using testosterone when you do not have a testosterone deficiency can lead to health problems. Complications can include acne and similar skin problems, sleep apnea, skin reactions to patches or gels, steroid rage and emotional disorders, and enlarged breast tissue, according to StatPearls.
In addition, testosterone therapy increases red blood cell production, making the blood thicker, and potentially increases the risk of blood clot, stroke and heart attack. It can also affect fertility as it can decrease sperm production.
Does the average person need to test for testosterone?
According to Bernie, it can be helpful for anyone to test testosterone levels in order to achieve understanding of their baseline level.
“I think it’s safe to say that everyone should at least know what their baseline number is,” she said. “Testosterone is a really important biomarker of a man’s overall health.”
Bernie said added that some patient populations, including those with a history of diabetes, chemotherapy, radiation, narcotic use, and more, should be screened routinely. Any patients with signs or symptoms of low testosterone should test for it as well.
What happens if troops are diagnosed with low testosterone?
Although the military’s new screening policy has not yet been fully defined, Hegseth indicated in his video that service members whose tests show low testosterone levels will have the option to undergo testosterone replacement therapy.
It’s unclear what testosterone levels the Pentagon would find acceptable. It’s also unclear whether troops with lower levels could face professional consequences.
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