{"id":9672,"date":"2021-01-22T06:00:55","date_gmt":"2021-01-22T05:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=9672"},"modified":"2021-01-25T10:14:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T09:14:03","slug":"testosterone-and-transgender-athletic-performance-finding-a-path-for-inclusion-for-transgender-athletes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2021\/01\/22\/testosterone-and-transgender-athletic-performance-finding-a-path-for-inclusion-for-transgender-athletes\/","title":{"rendered":"Testosterone and Transgender Athletic Performance : Finding a path for inclusion for transgender athletes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Testosterone and female sports<\/span><\/p>\n

Participation in exercise and sports has many health benefits and all people should have the opportunity to participate. After puberty, testosterone gives male athletes a competitive advantage over female athletes. Because of this, female sports are considered a protected category to ensure fairness in competition. However, this does not account for women with naturally elevated levels of testosterone or prior exposure to testosterone. In recent years professional organizations have tried to establish guidelines for inclusion of both women with medical conditions that result in elevated testosterone and for transgender women in female sports. The most recent recommendations have included maintaining serum testosterone levels in the natal female range for at least 12 months in the belief that time period should be sufficient to eliminate the benefits of prior higher levels of testosterone exposure. However courts have repealed these guidelines, citing a lack of supporting evidence.<\/p>\n

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Our Study<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

We studied the longitudinal influence of hormone therapy on athletic performance and body composition among adults. US Air Force members are required to take a semi-annual standardized fitness assessment including: measurement of height, weight, and waist circumference; maximum number of sit-ups and push-ups in 1 minute; and a timed mile and a half run. For our study, we measured changes in scores from fitness assessments, performed by active duty transgender service members, which occurred between 1-year before starting medical transition and 2 \u00bd years after. We also compared the performance of the transgender servicemembers to the average performance of all Air Force members under the age of 30 from 2004 to 2014.<\/p>\n

Our Findings<\/span><\/p>\n

Transgender individuals have been able to serve openly and have access to gender affirming hormone therapy in the United States military since 2016. In the Air Force, requests to begin or continue hormonal therapy are reviewed by a centralized clinic. Of the 222 transgender service members who requested permission to start or continue treatment, we had complete fitness and medical data on 46 transwomen and 29 transmen. The average age was 26.2 with a standard deviation of 5.5 years.<\/p>\n