Military readiness stories

Sep 18, 2026

Pentagon reinstates mandatory testosterone screening for male service members 30 and older

The Pentagon issued new guidance requiring testosterone deficiency screening for male active-duty and reserve service members over age 30, after temporarily rescinding previous guidance earlier in September. Officials said rules for female service members will be released later.

Sep 18, 20264 sources

Top claims

▪Service members undergoing testosterone replacement therapy can deploy without a waiver if they demonstrate clinical stability and a testosterone level between 300 and 600 ng/dL during a four-to-six-week follow-up.
▪The Defense Health Agency's diagnostic protocol requires a second early-morning fasting test on a different day under identical pre-test conditions before a testosterone deficiency diagnosis is made.
▪The Pentagon issued updated clinical guidance on September 17, 2026, reinstating mandatory testosterone-deficiency screening for male active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older.

Subtopics

Hormone optimization1 Women's health1

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