As Hegseth pursues a 'High-T' military, here's what to know about testosterone replacement

By — Madison Czopek, PolitiFact Madison Czopek, PolitiFact Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/as-hegseth-pursues-a-high-t-military-heres-what-to-know-about-testosterone-replacement Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter As Hegseth pursues a 'High-T' military, here's what to know about testosterone replacement Health Jul 26, 2026 9:00 AM EDT This article originally appeared on PolitiFact . Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he plans to test U.S. service members' testosterone levels each year. In a July 15 X post , Hegseth called for a "High-T Department of War" and said in a video that "war fighters age 30 and older" would be screened as part of their existing annual health assessments . Service members under age 30 could voluntarily opt in, he said. If low testosterone treatment is recommended, Hegseth said a patient can choose whether to receive testosterone replacement therapy. REAAD MORE: Hegseth announces new policy to test troops for low testosterone and offer them hormone replacement therapy "This initiative — it's not about artificial enhancement," he said . "It's about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight." But when it comes to testosterone levels, optimization isn't so straightforward. Scientists don't agree on a single value that is too low. It depends on a person's sex, age and symptoms, among other factors. Not everyone who receives one blood test showing lower testosterone levels needs testosterone replacement therapy, which can have benefits but also comes with risks. There's also not a lot of clarity about what this policy will look like in practice, and the Defense Department declined to answer many of our specific questions. A July 15 Pentagon spokesperson statement confirmed the testosterone deficiency screening Hegseth spoke about would be mandatory for all active duty and reserve personnel 30 and older. What is a healthy testosterone level? How much testosterone a body needs and naturally makes varies from person to person. No single number represents whether a person's testosterone level is healthy, but doctors have identified some acceptable ranges. READ MORE: Trump officials want to make testosterone drugs easier to prescribe. Is that a good idea? For adult men, the Endocrine Society says normal testosterone levels span from about 300 to 1,000 nanograms per deciliter. This measurement is used in medical lab testing; a nanogram is one billionth of a gram and a deciliter is one-tenth of a liter. A 2017 study of more than 9,000 men in the U.S. and Europe found normal testosterone levels in a similar range, 264 to 916 nanograms per deciliter. Adult women's testosterone levels are naturally lower and vary with factors such as age . Women generally have from 15 to 46 nanograms of testosterone per deciliter, Cleveland Clinic reported