Pentagon temporarily rescinds mandatory testosterone screening guidance for troops

The Pentagon has temporarily rescinded its newly issued clinical guidance for a mandatory testosterone screening policy for service members aged 30 and older to allow for updates. Announced in July 2026 by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to optimize troop readiness, the policy has faced pushback from medical experts. Critics warn that universal screening lacks scientific backing and risks harmful overtreatment, while the Pentagon maintains its commitment to addressing hormone deficiencies.

Claims

• ▪The Pentagon stated that the draft clinical guidance published on September 2, 2026, was temporarily rescinded to allow for updates, while its interim guidance on testosterone screenings remains in effect.
• ▪U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated in July 2026 that receiving testosterone replacement therapy would be entirely the choice of the service member if treatment is recommended.
• ▪The Pentagon removed the "Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization" memo and an accompanying statement by spokesperson Sean Parnell from its website on September 3, 2026, one day after publication.
• ▪The Pentagon temporarily rescinded its newly published clinical guidance for mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older on September 3, 2026.
• ▪The rescinded Pentagon guidelines offered optional annual testosterone screenings to male service members under the age of 30.
• ▪U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the mandatory annual testosterone screening policy for service members aged 30 and older in July 2026, promoting it as a way to optimize warfighter performance and military readiness.
• ▪The rescinded Pentagon guidelines specified that male service members aged 30 and older would complete a screening questionnaire that could trigger a blood test and subsequent testosterone hormone therapy.
• ▪The rescinded Pentagon guidelines directed that female service members be screened via questionnaire for symptoms of hormonal dysregulation, such as disrupted menstrual cycles, and referred for further assessment if needed.
• ▪Army Major Theodore Crisostomo-Wynne stated during a 2025 Food and Drug Administration panel that high operational stress, blast exposure, and sleep disruptions can decrease testosterone levels in service members.
• ▪Neither the American Urological Association nor the Endocrine Society recommends routine screening for low testosterone.
• ▪Medical experts, including Derek Griffith of the University of Pennsylvania, questioned the scientific basis of the mandate, noting that only 2 percent of the male population has low testosterone.
• ▪Dr. Jason Goldman of the American College of Physicians warned that widespread testosterone screening lacks evidence of benefit and risks overtreatment, which can worsen sleep apnea, raise red blood cell counts, and increase heart risks.

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