Army Study Finds One in Four Men Tested Below Testosterone Cutoff

One in Four Male Soldiers Met Low Testosterone Screening Criteria

Approximately one in four active-duty male United States Army personnel had a morning testosterone reading below a standard clinical threshold in a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Researchers from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center analyzed blood samples from 479 male soldiers across five military installations between August 2024 and January 2026. The cross-sectional analysis evaluated participants enrolled in the Military Health and Nutrition Examination Study.

Applying a cutoff of less than 300 nanograms per deciliter (ng/dL) identified an estimated 25.7 percent of the male active-duty Army population as low. That proportion represents approximately 100,691 service members. Applying a stricter cutoff of less than 264 ng/dL lowered the estimated prevalence to 14.7 percent, which represents roughly 57,788 men.

How Screening Thresholds and Age Shifted the Numbers

Age created a distinct divide in the proportion of service members who fell below both clinical screening cutoffs. Among personnel younger than 30 years old, 19.5 percent registered below the 300 ng/dL threshold, and 11.4 percent fell below 264 ng/dL. For personnel aged 30 and older, those numbers rose to 32.8 percent and 18.6 percent, respectively.

The findings emerge as military leadership evaluates broader health surveillance protocols. A Department of War memorandum called for annual testosterone screening for active-duty and reserve military personnel aged 30 and older. The authors noted that understanding these baseline numbers helps military health systems project how many individuals will require follow-up evaluations once wide-scale screening begins.

Higher Body Mass Index and Metabolic Factors in Military Screenings

Elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) correlated with higher rates of low testosterone readings across the cohort. The researchers observed that men with higher body mass index values were more likely to record morning levels below both evaluated thresholds. Physical stress, acute illness, and sleep disruptions can also temporarily suppress circulating hormone values.

Testosterone levels fluctuate naturally during the day and respond directly to metabolic strain. Pennington Biomedical collaborated with the United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine to examine these operational influences. The authors emphasized that screening numbers alone do not separate temporary physiological suppression from long-term endocrine dysfunction.

• A threshold of 300 ng/dL flagged 25.7 percent of personnel, while 264 ng/dL flagged 14.7 percent.
• Soldiers aged 30 and older recorded low measurements at nearly double the rate of younger peers under the 264 ng/dL cutoff.
• Higher body mass index values tracked consistently with lower morning testosterone measurements.

Why a Single Low Test Does Not Establish Hypogonadism

A single morning blood draw showing low testosterone does not establish a diagnosis of clinical hypogonadism. Endocrine guidelines state that an initial screening test requires confirmation through repeat morning blood draws alongside a documented history of clinical signs or symptoms. Without repeat testing, initial screening numbers risk overestimating the true prevalence of endocrine disorders.

The study authors emphasized that screening results must not be confused with an automatic indication for prescription therapy. Anyone reviewing a low hormone test should discuss repeat testing, symptom context, and metabolic health factors with a qualified clinician.