Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday a plan to restore and optimize testosterone levels in the nation’s service members.“While we invest heavily in our weapon systems, platforms and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,” said Hegseth in a two-and-a-half minute announcement on X. “We have a sacred duty to maintain that advantage, which is why we must constantly look for new ways to optimize your performance, your resilience and your long-term health.” In that vein, he said, the Department of Defense plans to begin a new screening program for testosterone deficiency, “ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.”Hegseth said that “warfighters” aged 30 and above would be tested annually by “world-class medical professionals” for their testosterone levels. Younger service members can voluntarily ask for screening. If treatment is recommended, he said, “it is entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy.”Details of the program were slim, and the announcement did not address the more than 231,000 women who serve in the military. Hegseth also did not say what would be considered optimal levels in individuals or across the military. He said the initiative wasn’t about “artificial enhancement” but in restoring and optimizing service members’ “natural capabilities” while protecting their longevity and ensuring the “biological foundation required to sustain the fight.”“By addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation: the absolute best,” he said.Research on testosterone replacement indicates that it is well-established and generally considered a safe medical practice when prescribed to civilians with a clinically diagnosed deficiency, also known as hypogonadism. Less is known about how it would effect military personnel, who — especially during deployment — may suffer from reduced food intake and sleep deprivation. According to research, active service members tend to have 65% less testosterone than the average American man. In 2019, researchers ran a clinical study that looked at how testosterone supplementation might affect troops by recruiting 53 men, aged 18 to 39, who had no heart or metabolic disorders, and who met “US Army body composition standards.” They found that giving men testosterone during a several-week period of extreme physical stress and undereating helped them retain or build muscle mass, but it did not make them stronger or fitter.In a statement, the American Urological Association said “it appreciates the Administration’s understanding of the importance of screening men for testosterone deficiency,” although “the diagnosis of testosterone deficiency should not be based on a single blood test alone.”The test could serve as a “baseline value” for individuals who might warrant further evaluation, it said. The Trump administration has condemned the use of hormones in gender-affirming care.
