- The Pentagon will screen active-duty service members 30 and older annually for testosterone deficiency, as announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Screening is mandatory for those 30+, while those under 30 can request it voluntarily.
- Treatment, including testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), will be optional and left to the individual's choice, not mandated by the military.
- Hegseth framed the initiative, dubbed 'High-T', as a readiness measure to optimize natural capabilities and maintain the military's edge, not as artificial enhancement.
- The screening will be added to the existing annual periodic health assessment, with no changes to the assessment itself, but implementation details and start date are unspecified.
- Low testosterone is a normal part of aging, with levels declining about 1% yearly after age 30-40, and treatment is recommended only when confirmed by testing and symptoms.
- The FDA approves TRT only for diagnosed hypogonadism, raising questions about alignment with the military's screening program.
- The move is part of Hegseth's broader focus on physical standards, including fitness tests, grooming rules, and body composition, extending to physiological health.
- Key unknowns include screening costs, rollout across service branches, result handling, career impacts, and reconciliation with FDA guidelines.