According to a comprehensive review of studies of both transgender and cis men and women, transgender women exhibit strength and fitness similar to cisgender women months after hormone therapy.
In the new research, Brazilian scientists used studies that compared the body composition or physical fitness of trans people before and after hormone therapy with that of cis people.
They found that despite larger muscle mass about one to three years after hormone therapy, trans women have physical fitness levels comparable to those of cis women. Scientists suspect there could be residual musculoskeletal differences that may not offer an athletic edge and note no difference between trans women and cis women in their maximal oxygen consumption.
Scientists call for future long-term studies to prioritise performance-specific metrics in trans athletes and I personally urge you to continue to listen to scientists over anti-trans activists when it comes to what you believe.
