The US Department of Defense has temporarily rescinded clinical guidance on implementing mandatory testosterone deficiency screenings for active-duty and reserve service members aged 30 and older.
The Defense Health Agency published the directive in early September before removing the documents from its website the following day.
Officials confirmed the interim guidance remains active while final clinical rules undergo updates.
“What was posted earlier this week was something that was a draft,” ABC News quoted US Defense Secretary Senior Advisor Tim Parlatore as saying. “It was not approved for release. Somebody had put it out there inadvertently.”
The move comes after Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth ordered the program last July, framing hormone optimization as essential to maintaining “biological foundation required to sustain the fight.”
The pulled document established yearly evaluations consisting of questionnaires and blood tests for male service members over 30, while younger troops would undergo testing only upon request or clinical indication.
The paper also outlined annual hormone-related health evaluations for female service members.
Reaction From Medical Community
Medical specialists have criticized universal hormone screening across healthy populations, citing a lack of evidence that broad testing enhances military readiness, according to Reuters.
Experts also warned that unnecessary testosterone replacement therapy carries risks, including cardiovascular issues, sleep apnea, and infertility.
Neither the Endocrine Society nor the American Urological Association recommends routine testing for asymptomatic individuals.
The policy was launched ahead of a scheduled mid-September Food and Drug Administration expert panel convened to discuss the medical uses and safety of testosterone.
Washington did not provide a timeline for releasing the finalized guidance.