Adolescent Medicine
Advocacy Pathway
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Dale Ahrendt, MD
Faculty, Adolescent Medicine Fellowship
San Antonio Military Medical Center
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Joshua Smalley, DO
Associate Program Director
San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium
Joint Base San Antonio, Texas, United States
Christina Roberts, MD MPH
Associate Professor
Pediatrics
Children's Mercy Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Sports participation for both exercise and competition is encouraged for all teens and young adults. Many athletic organizations have gender segregated leagues in an effort to even the playing field for all that are involved, under the assumption that male athletes often have a competitive advantage over female athletes. Where does that leave the transgender athlete? Do they compete as their experienced gender, or their gender assigned at birth? If they are undergoing hormonal treatment, at what point should that change their gender status for the purpose of competition? Many state legislatures have been putting forth legislation to restrict transgender participation in sports. A variety of organizations have attempted to draft rules for how transgender athletes may compete, but often these have not been evidence-based and have produced confusion and unwarranted exclusion of athletes. Our goal is to review what science has been able to tell us about the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy on athletic performance. We will also discuss rules implemented by organizations from the local to the international Olympic level and how they impact transgender athletes and their ability to participate in sports; often excluding them from the protective effects of sports participation. PAS members with an interest in the care of transgender youth, sports medicine, or advocacy should find this of particular interest. The presenters will preview some insights into the issue from their current research endeavors that may help to shape the discussion in the future.