Overview
- The British Journal of Sports Medicine published a pooled analysis of 52 studies covering 6,485 participants aged 14–41.
- Despite greater lean mass, transgender women showed comparable upper and lower body strength and VO₂ max to cisgender women 1–3 years after starting hormone therapy.
- Transgender men demonstrated expected shifts after treatment, including less fat, more muscle, and higher strength.
- Researchers flagged major evidence gaps, including short follow-up, few elite athletes and adolescents, and inconsistent adjustment for training history, diet, and prior therapy.
- Independent experts welcomed the synthesis but urged cautious interpretation, highlighting unanswered questions about puberty suppression, adolescent transition, and possible training-related ‘muscle memory,’ and favoring sport-specific eligibility over blanket bans.