Are trans women as strong and fit as cis women after hormone therapy?
Cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength in transgender women on long-term gender-affirming hormone therapy: a cross-sectional study
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Trans women’s oxygen use efficiency matches cis men and women when adjusted for muscle mass.
Many assume prior testosterone exposure gives lasting athletic advantages, but after 14+ years of hormone therapy, that gap disappears in relative terms.
Practical Takeaways
When evaluating fitness or athletic potential in trans women, focus on lean body mass rather than total strength or oxygen use.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Trans women’s oxygen use efficiency matches cis men and women when adjusted for muscle mass.
Many assume prior testosterone exposure gives lasting athletic advantages, but after 14+ years of hormone therapy, that gap disappears in relative terms.
Practical Takeaways
When evaluating fitness or athletic potential in trans women, focus on lean body mass rather than total strength or oxygen use.
Publication
Journal
British Journal of Sports Medicine
Year
2022
Authors
L. Alvares, Marcelo Rodrigues Santos, F. Souza, L. M. Santos, B. Mendonca, E. Costa, M. J. N. Alves, S. Domenice
Related Content
Claims (6)
Trans women who aren't athletes and have been on hormone therapy for over a decade still have stronger hand grip than cis women, but not as strong as cis men — their strength falls somewhere in the middle.
For transgender women on long-term hormone therapy, how well their bodies use oxygen during exercise is closely linked to their muscle mass relative to height — but this doesn’t seem to be the case for cisgender men or women.
Trans women who've been on hormone therapy for years can take in more oxygen during intense exercise than cis women, but less than cis men — putting their heart and lung fitness somewhere in the middle.
When you account for muscle mass, trans women, cis women, and cis men have about the same heart and lung fitness level — even if their raw numbers look different.
When you account for how much muscle someone has, trans women and cis women are about equally strong — even if their total strength looks different at first.