Hormones and Endurance

[Jasmine.m]

Hello. I'm wondering what the effects of hrt will have on a persons physical endurance, especially at high altitudes?

My main love in life is back-country hiking/(non-technical) mountaineering. I've summitted several mountains and I've logged over two months of accumulated time in the back-country in places like the Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada's, Smoky Mountains, etc...  I see females all the time in the bc, so I don't think I would be out of place or in danger or anything like that. But I am concerned about hrt on endurance. It's not like I'm a world class athlete as it is, I'm actually kind of scrawny in comparison to a lot of the guys I see out there and I carry a much lighter pack than most. I get some strange looks, b/c I still wear girls clothes, shoes, hats, etc; even my pack is a 'diva' model. I think the sporty, hiker girls have the cutest outfits! Anyway, I'm off track... I haven't read anything about endurance specifically, but I've read that some of the side effects of hrt include dehydration. These would be my two biggest concerns. I'd hate to have to give up this hobby. Hiking would be on my very short list of things I'd have to seriously consider giving up.

I'm talking about this with my therapist and will also discuss it with a doctor prior to starting hrt, but I thought I would get an early read and maybe some RLE from those who have been through it. Can any of you sporty or hiker type girls comment?

~Jasmine 

[rejennyrated]

Short answer - over a period of time you gradually move from male norms to female norms. Which is why even the olympics now allow longterm postop women to compete in female events.

Will it reduce you upper body strength and your endurance - yes, but no more than would be the case for a natal woman in your age and physical fitness grouping... so assuming you don't actually WANT to retain male physique and strength nothing to worry about.

[Naturally Blonde]

Short answer - over a period of time you gradually move from male norms to female norms. Which is why even the olympics now allow longterm postop women to compete in female events.

I thought in professional sporting events it was still illegal?

[Renate]

After your natal source of testosterone is removed, you will be in the same boat as a natal woman after a hysterectomy (actually, oophorectomy).
Your testosterone level may drop to the point where testosterone supplements may be indicated.
This will help to get your energy level and endurance back on track.

[jennajane]

I'm curious about this as well.  I am hoping to start HRT this spring and consider myself to be a sporty type.  I understand the loss of muscle mass and welcome it, but am curious how it would effect things like endurance, my mind quickly jumps to the size of the lungs which I guess wouldn't change.  Anybody have ideas of the physiological changes that would alter endurance?

Also, not to hijack but am super curious on the effects on flexibility.

jenna!

[rejennyrated]

I thought in professional sporting events it was still illegal?

Nope - not if it can be shown that the transgender past offers "no current competitive advantage" and blood work now shows everything hormonal to be within bio normal ranges fro the adopted sex.

The rules state that the individual must be unambiguously postoperative and have lived within their adopted sex for a period of time.

Two examples of professional transgender sportwomen are Mianne Bagger (Golf) and Michelle Dumaresq (Cycling).

[Hannah]

As far as dehydration goes I dunno what to say, I'm always freaking thirsty no matter how much I drink.

As I understand it, the drop off in endurance is from a shift in the density of blood plasma. Plasma carries things like glucose and dissolved protein and carries away carbon dioxide from muscles, so if it isn't as dense their capacity and endurance is reduced over time. I can't quote a source for you, I'm sorry, it's something I read quite a while ago and for all I know it's nonsense. It sounds logical though and might be a good direction to point your doctor in.

On a positive note you mentioned being sporty. Fit people have more mitochondria in their cells, which process glucose and oxygen, so while I'd bet the things you do will become more difficult over time as your plasma lightens, your body should adapt somewhat and it probably won't be as bad as you fear.

[Naturally Blonde]

Nope - not if it can be shown that the transgender past offers "no current competitive advantage" and blood work now shows everything hormonal to be within bio normal ranges fro the adopted sex.

The rules state that the individual must be unambiguously postoperative and have lived within their adopted sex for a period of time.

Two examples of professional transgender sportwomen are Mianne Bagger (Golf) and Michelle Dumaresq (Cycling).

I was referring to the Caster Semenya case:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/caster_semenya/index.html?inline=nyt-per

[Jasmine.m]

Thank to each of you for your replies! Very insightful

Becca, I'll be sure to mention that to my dr. Seems like a logical theory.

Valerie, I'm also a runner and run a few 1/2's per year, mostly to train for hiking. Thanks for sharing your experience, it's exactly the type of example I was hoping for! 

[Muffin]

I'd say that HRT wouldn't have as much as a negative effect as say a bad diet. Obviously though as some have more or less pointed out already..hhmmmm :S
Dehydration issues maybe only for those on spiro? Since I stopped taking that crap and switched to androcur I don't have any of those nasty side effects from that stuff.
http://www.living-foods.com/articles/vinegartruth.html

[rejennyrated]

I was referring to the Caster Semenya case:
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/caster_semenya/index.html?inline=nyt-per

The reason why Caster had problems was that in her case the hormonal levels were NOT within normal ranges and the argument was therefore that the higher androgen levels would give her a competitive advantage.

As I said the defining question as to whether an athlete is allowed to compete is the hormonal balance and how that affects the muscle tone and endurance - the exact thing which the poster was concerned over. The two ladies that I have cited are both able to compete because they have achieved normal female levels and muscle tone.

[Ms.Behavin]

Having been a competitive cyclist in my past life (Ie formar state road champ, went to the nationals, etc) and been to the top of Longs peak,  For me anyway, I have lost quite a bit of endurance and strength.  Pretty much an average woman now.  So  odds are given time you will loose some endurance.  Do I miss it, no.  I just adjust my activity level.

Beni

[Northern Jane]

Being in a competitive sport and very involved in the Intersex community as well I did quite a bit of research recently on the advantages and disadvantages of various 'unusual physiologies' when the I.O.C. allowed the Chinese Olympic committee to effectively re-introduce gender testing contrary to the I.O.C.'s own policy.

By the best scientific research to date, androgens promote the growth of larger muscle mass, better oxygenation, faster recovery times, and a higher "explosive" muscle strength than in women. A post-operative transsexual is actually at a DISadvantage because her androgen levels will be below normal female. In addition, if size is a detriment in her sport, she is likely to be larger and heavier than most of her GG competition. The latter  are the reasons why the IOC abandoned gender testing - because there is no proven "advantage" but strong indications of a disadvantage.