{
  "id": 8305527,
  "title": "Pentagon posts guidance for mandatory testosterone screening. Here's what it may mean",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-posts-guidance-for-mandatory-testosterone-screening-heres",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-18T20:50:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News (US)",
    "slug": "abc-news-us",
    "url": "https://abcnews.com/Health/pentagon-posts-new-guidance-mandatory-testosterone-screening/story?id=136562269"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Pentagon has released new guidelines addressing mandatory testosterone deficiency screening for male service members over the age of 30 who are currently in active duty or reserve status. This announcement comes two weeks after the temporary withdrawal of similar screening guidelines from the Department of Defense website. The new guidelines aim to establish uniform screening and treatment procedures across the Department of Homeland Security (DHA) enterprise, with a focus on identifying and treating suboptimal hormone levels to enhance service members' overall health, performance, and readiness.\n\nThe screening process for male service members will involve a structured symptom and risk assessment, as well as blood tests measuring testosterone levels on two separate mornings while fasting. Additionally, an LH/FSH blood panel will be conducted to assess reproductive hormones. When total testosterone levels fall within a normal range, free testosterone measurements will also be performed. The guidelines emphasize that for service members with normal testosterone levels, these additional tests will be conducted.\n\nFor female service members, the Pentagon is reviewing their screening guidelines, which will be posted upon approval. Earlier this year, a top Pentagon adviser clarified that the initially posted document was a draft that had been inadvertently made public. The new screening guidelines come amid growing concern over low testosterone levels in the military, particularly within the special operations community, where intense physical demands and inadequate nutrition may negatively impact hormone levels. Research on this subject is still ongoing.\n\nTo put the issue in perspective, between 4.0 million and 13.8 million men in the United States have testosterone deficiency, according to the American Urological Association (AUA). However, the exact scope of the problem remains uncertain, as there are differing thresholds for diagnosing testosterone deficiency. Testosterone issues are most common among older men, those with diabetes or obesity. Some experts worry that the widespread online discussion surrounding \"low-T\" could create a false impression of the problem's magnitude, as up to 25% of men who receive testosterone therapy do not have their levels properly tested, and up to one-third of men who receive therapy do not meet medical criteria for a diagnosis.",
  "summary": "The Pentagon posted new guidance on Thursday for mandatory testosterone deficiency screening among male service members over age 30 in active duty or in the reserves.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CityNews",
        "title": "The Pentagon is moving forward with mandatory testosterone testing for most male troops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/the-pentagon-is-moving-forward-with-mandatory-testosterone-testing-8281525",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:20:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "The Pentagon is moving forward with mandatory testosterone testing for most male troops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/the-pentagon-is-moving-forward-with-mandatory-testosterone-testing",
        "published": "2026-09-18T17:20:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "The Pentagon is moving forward with mandatory testosterone testing for most male troops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/the-pentagon-is-moving-forward-with-mandatory-testosterone-testing-8294559",
        "published": "2026-09-18T18:26:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Pentagon resumes paused testosterone policy amid medical experts’ concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-resumes-paused-testosterone-policy-amid-medical-experts",
        "published": "2026-09-18T18:54:12.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Pentagon moves forward with mandatory testosterone testing for most male troops",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-moves-forward-with-mandatory-testosterone-testing-for-most",
        "published": "2026-09-18T19:13:22.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Times",
        "title": "Pentagon weighs pulling at least 25,000 US troops from Europe: report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/pentagon-weighs-pulling-at-least-25-000-us-troops-from-europe-report",
        "published": "2026-09-18T21:41:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}