US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced that all US military personnel over the age of 30 will have their testosterone levels tested during their annual health check-ups, the BBC reports.
In a video posted on X, Hegseth said he would allow a screening program for soldiers to ensure that all testosterone levels are high enough to perform at their best. Soldiers with testosterone levels below the norm will be able to voluntarily apply for hormone replacement therapy.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said that testosterone testing would be mandatory for all active duty and reserve soldiers over the age of 30, while younger soldiers would be able to voluntarily apply for hormone level testing.
In a video posted on the 15th of July, Hegseth stressed that American soldiers deserve the best health care in the world, and the new screening program would provide it. He added that long-term health care means maintaining strength, endurance and ability, not just for the next deployment, but also for a better life after the uniform is no longer worn.
The use of testosterone without a medical reason and a doctor’s prescription, for example, to build muscle mass, is strictly prohibited
in the US military. Hegseth stressed in the video that the new program is not intended to artificially increase performance. Parnell added in a written statement that the new policy will allow the department to set a baseline level and offer hormone therapy when necessary, thus ensuring that soldiers are healthy, capable and dominant.
When asked whether female soldiers in the military will also be tested for hormone levels and will have the opportunity to receive hormone therapy when they enter premenopause, the Pentagon said it would not comment on Hegseth and Parnell’s statements.
Democratic Senator from Illinois and Iraq War veteran Tammy Duckworth called for hormone testing for both men and women. Democratic Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, called Hegseth’s idea his latest war culture obsession.
Testosterone levels rise during puberty. At some point between the ages of 30 and 40, testosterone levels naturally begin to decline. Data vary, but it is estimated that low testosterone levels affect 10 to 40 percent of older men. These men may experience depressed mood, decreased libido, and muscle loss. Blood tests can measure testosterone levels and provide treatment if needed.
Hegseth’s announcement follows efforts by US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other administration officials to remove barriers that prevent doctors from freely prescribing testosterone.
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