{"id":4578,"date":"2026-07-15T21:40:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T21:40:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4578"},"modified":"2026-07-15T21:40:11","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T21:40:11","slug":"troops-over-30-must-have-testosterone-levels-checked-annually-to-ensure-leading-edge-of-lethality-hegseth-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4578","title":{"rendered":"Troops over 30 must have testosterone levels checked annually to ensure ‘leading edge of lethality,’ Hegseth says"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

They\u2019re gonna be put to the test(es).<\/p>\n

US troops 30 or older must check their testosterone levels annually to ensure military readiness and keep them on \u201cthe leading edge of lethality,\u201d Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Read more Argentina breaks England\u2019s heart with stunning World Cup comeback as Spain only obstacle left toward repeat<\/a><\/p>\n

The Pentagon will also offer testosterone replacement therapy, Hegseth said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best,\u201d Hegseth said in a video posted to X with the caption, \u201cThe High-T Department of War.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new policy will make testosterone tests a standard part of the military\u2019s existing annual periodic health assessment. While it\u2019s required for troops over 30, younger service members have the option to receive the screening voluntarily.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Follow The Post\u2019s live coverage of President Trump and national politics for the latest news and analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n

There will be no other changes to the health assessment, according to Hegseth, who said the Pentagon will just add the testosterone screening to the annual evaluation.<\/p>\n

If a troop is found to have low testosterone, Hegseth says there will be a replacement therapy available, but if it\u2019s recommended, \u201cit\u2019s entirely your choice to receive\u201d it.<\/p>\n

Hegseth said the goal is not an effort to artificially boost military performance.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis initiative, it\u2019s not about artificial enhancement,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cIt\u2019s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting. It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness, and by addressing these health markers early, we\u2019re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality,\u201d the secretary added.<\/p>\n

Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in sex drive, energy levels, bone density, muscle mass, and red blood cell production. Testosterone in men naturally declines as they age, though the rate and speed it decreases varies.<\/p>\n

Read more NJ babysitter blames victim in tearful first court appearance for horrifying child sex charges<\/a><\/p>\n

New research finds that one out of four men over age 30 have low testosterone levels, but only one in 20 men show noticeable symptoms.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBy addressing these health markers early, we\u2019re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation the absolute best,\u201d Hegseth said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

Coincidentally, bedroom-booster drugs rose to an all-time high for military personnel, with a record-breaking 108,332 drugs prescribed in 2025 for active troops for erectile dysfunction, according to official statistics first obtained by The Post through a Freedom of Information Act request.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The previous record, set in 2024, comes close with 108,323 prescriptions set. In 2021, a 16.5% jump in prescriptions was recorded with only 92,966 drugs prescribed.<\/p>\n

The surge doesn\u2019t end with active military personnel. Veterans and dependents claimed 639,355 bedroom-boosting prescriptions in 2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Individuals with clinically diagnosed testosterone deficiency have seen improvement in their sexual function after treatment, according to the Endocrine Society. The organization, however, notes that treatment should only be conducted when low testosterone is confirmed through screening.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile we invest heavily in our weapon systems, platforms and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,\u201d Hegseth said. \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Pentagon has not yet released when the new screening requirement will take effect across the military branches, or if additional medical guidance will accompany the rollout.<\/p>\n

Read more England vs. Argentina live updates: World Cup 2026 score, news and highlights<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

US troops 30 or older must check their testosterone levels annually to ensure military readiness and keep them on “the leading edge of lethality,” Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4577,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-politics"],"yoast_head":"\nTroops over 30 must have testosterone levels checked annually to ensure 'leading edge of lethality,' Hegseth says - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=4578\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Troops over 30 must have testosterone levels checked annually to ensure 'leading edge of lethality,' Hegseth says - 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