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US Defence Secretary Hegseth announces mandatory testosterone screening for troops 30 years old or above
๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฐ Pakistan /Conflict & Security

US Defence Secretary Hegseth announces mandatory testosterone screening for troops 30 years old or above

From Dawn · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced mandatory annual testosterone screening for troops aged 30 and above.
  • The initiative aims to combat testosterone deficiency, which can undermine troop health and performance.
  • Troops diagnosed with low testosterone may be offered replacement therapy, with voluntary participation.
  • Troops under 30 can request testing, and recent health policy changes may ease restrictions on testosterone therapies.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a new initiative requiring mandatory annual testosterone screening for all military personnel aged 30 and older. This measure aims to address declining testosterone levels, a condition that can negatively impact soldiers' health and operational effectiveness.

Hegseth stated that the screening is intended to identify and combat testosterone deficiency among service members. Those diagnosed with low levels could be offered testosterone replacement therapy. Participation in such treatment would be voluntary, with the goal of ensuring troops maintain optimal hormone levels for peak performance.

ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best

โ€” Pete HegsethExplaining the goal of the testosterone screening initiative.

The policy change will integrate the testosterone screening into the standard annual health assessments for eligible troops. While the screening is mandatory for those 30 and above, service members younger than 30 will have the option to request testing if they choose. This move aligns with broader shifts in health policy, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has recently moved to ease some restrictions on testosterone replacement therapies.

Because itโ€™s well-established science that as we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop

โ€” Pete HegsethProviding a rationale for the new screening policy.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.