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Yes, but with an important qualification: a JAMA research letter estimated that about one-quarter of active-duty U.S. Army men had a single morning testosterone result below 300 ng/dL. That is a screening result, not a finding that one-quarter have confirmed hypogonadism. Clinical diagnosis generally requires compatible symptoms or signs and a second low morning measurement.
What the Army testosterone estimate actually measured
The JAMA research letter published October 15, 2026, analyzed morning testosterone measurements from 479 male active-duty soldiers. In that sample, 124 readings were below 300 ng/dL, or about 25.9% of those tested. The Washington Post extrapolated the result to an estimated 100,691 active-duty Army personnel.
The estimate applies to active-duty Army men, not every U.S. service member. It does not directly measure reservists, National Guard personnel, women, veterans, or men in other military branches. It also comes from one measurement per participant and from extrapolation of a 479-person sample, so the figure should be read as an estimate of screening prevalence.
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The study used 300 ng/dL because the American Urological Association considers that a reasonable cutoff for helping evaluate possible testosterone deficiency. A separate harmonized Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reference study placed the lower limit of normal at 264 ng/dL for healthy, nonobese men aged 19 to 39. The JAMA research letter does not report how many of the soldiers fell below 264 ng/dL, so the Army-wide estimate cannot be recalculated from the published figures.
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Testosterone changes with age, time of day, obesity, illness and physical stress. A low morning value can therefore be temporary or reflect a factor other than persistent hypogonadism. Experts quoted by the Washington Post said diagnosis ordinarily combines symptoms or physical signs with repeat low morning testing. A single value below 300 ng/dL identifies someone for further evaluation; it does not establish disease by itself.
What the subgroup results show
The overall estimate hides meaningful differences within the sample:
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- About 33% of men aged 30 or older were below 300 ng/dL.
- About 20% of younger men were below that threshold.
- Older age and higher body-mass index were associated with lower testosterone readings.
These associations do not prove that age or body size caused an individual soldier’s result. They do show why an Army-wide percentage should not be treated as every soldier’s personal probability.
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Associated Press reporting on Pentagon clinical guidance says testosterone testing is required for male service members aged 30 and older. Younger male service members may request testing. The initial policy excludes women, and any testosterone replacement is voluntary.
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Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the aim is to identify and treat “suboptimal hormone levels” to support warfighter health, performance and readiness. The same guidance sets a narrower expectation for treatment: it says evidence does not support testosterone’s use to improve general energy, vitality, physical function or cognition.
The guidance also warns that testosterone therapy can suppress sperm production and advises against prescribing it to men planning near-term fatherhood. For deployed forces, it identifies practical issues involving controlled storage, supply, custody and continuity of treatment.
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Study finding versus Pentagon policy
| Issue | JAMA study and media estimate | Pentagon clinical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| What is being measured | A single morning testosterone result used for screening | Clinical testing followed by evaluation and voluntary treatment |
| Population | 479 sampled male active-duty soldiers; an extrapolated 100,691 Army personnel | Male service members covered by the policy, with mandatory testing beginning at age 30 |
| Threshold | Below 300 ng/dL, the AUA evaluation cutoff cited by JAMA | The guidance’s treatment decisions are clinical; it does not turn the study’s screening percentage into a diagnosis rate |
| Age rule | About 33% of sampled men 30 or older versus about 20% of younger men were below 300 ng/dL | Testing required at 30 and older; younger men may request testing |
| Expected benefit | Identifies readings that may warrant further assessment | Addresses documented deficiency and selected clinical outcomes, not unsupported claims of broad cognitive or energy enhancement |
How a low result should be evaluated
For a soldier or clinician, the sensible sequence is different from treating a screening percentage as a diagnosis:
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- Confirm the result. Repeat testing should be performed in the morning because levels vary during the day and can be affected by illness or physical stress.
- Look for contributing factors. Age, body size, current illness and other circumstances can influence the measurement and may change the appropriate response.
- Discuss treatment goals and risks. Replacement is voluntary under the Pentagon guidance, and sperm suppression is a material consideration for anyone planning children soon.
This process is why the estimated 100,691 screenings should not be reported as 100,691 cases of hypogonadism.
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What remains uncertain
The available JAMA page is a research-letter abstract or landing page, and the estimate is based on a one-time measurement from 479 soldiers. It does not establish how many men had persistent low testosterone, symptoms, an underlying medical cause or a clinical indication for replacement therapy. Pentagon implementation details were current as of October 15, 2026 and may change.
The clearest conclusion is therefore limited but important: the military may find many low screening values when it tests older male personnel, yet screening prevalence, confirmed deficiency and appropriate treatment are three different quantities. The policy’s own evidence statement rejects using testosterone as a general-purpose energy, cognition or performance enhancer.
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