I don't really know wrote:
I know this thread is long and may not get too many readers at this point, but I have a real question: does anyone know if any of the trans people we are talking about here transitioned before puberty? If so, wouldn't they be following all the current rules of the sport?
I would assume the answer is no, so that brings up the next question: has anyone heard of someone transitioning before puberty and making it to the elite level of their sport? What kind of research has been done that assesses whether a trans that takes the hormone blockers pre-puberty does or does not have a biological advantage over cis-gendered women?
Another more general question is when someone takes the hormone blockers, does their level of T drop to absolute zero, or does it bottom out at some minimal level? Are they given any other hormones as a cushion so their bodies do not go into "non-hormone" shock (for lack of a more scientific term)?
To answer your questions.
1. No, I don't think they started transitioning before puberty.
2. No. I am not aware of anyone who started transitioning before puberty reaching the elite level.
3. I don't know of any research on the potential advantage of trans females who started medical transition before puberty. There are not many of them engaged in sports, and even fewer at any competitive level. It would be hard to conduct such research.
4. Puberty blocker usually suppresses the t-level to "normal female range." It is usually followed by estrogen supplement to induce female puberty.