Sept. 18 (UPI) — The Pentagon late Thursday issued new guidance for mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for men over the age of 30 serving on active duty or in the reserves.
The new guidance comes after the Department of Defense earlier this month rescinded previous guidance. The DoD said the new guidance will address testosterone deficiency in men and establish uniform screening and pathways for the Defense Health Agency.
The Pentagon says this is being done so the U.S. military has a lethal fighting force “prepared to dominate the battlefield and achieve peace through strength.”
“By proactively identifying and treating suboptimal hormone levels, the Department continues to invest in the health of its warfighters, strengthen their performance and maximize force readiness,” Pentagon chief spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement.
According to the DHA, the screening will consist of a “structured symptom and risk-factor assessment.” Male service members under 30 will be screened on request or if “clinical indicators are identified by the examining provider.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in July announced the push to screen service members’ testosterone levels and offer testosterone replacement therapy, saying it would keep soldiers on the “leading edge of lethality.”
Source: U.S. News
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