Overview
- The Defense Health Agency issued the clinical guidance on Thursday, Sept. 17, formalizing a uniform program to screen and manage testosterone deficiency in male service members.
- The policy implements Secretary Pete Hegseth’s July directive that makes screening mandatory for service members aged 30 and older and optional for those under 30.
- A Sept. 2 draft that included questions and clinical provisions for female troops was removed and the reissued guideline applies only to male service members.
- Diagnosis requires compatible symptoms plus consistently low levels confirmed by two fasting morning blood samples taken on separate days, and providers must rule out other causes such as sleep loss or calorie shortfall.
- Treatment remains voluntary, service members stable on therapy generally stay deployable if medication supply is assured, and officials say the program may be updated after further medical input and outside review.