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Cited by 142Hormonal and reproductive studiesHypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesSexual Differentiation and Disorders

Sex differences in athletic performance emerge coinciding with the onset of male puberty

Open access
Handelsman, David J·2017·Clinical Endocrinology
DOI 10.1111/cen.13350
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Male performance in athletic events begins to exceed that of age-matched females during early adolescence, but the timing of this divergence relative to the onset of male puberty and the rise in circulating testosterone remains poorly defined. DESIGN: This study is a secondary quantitative analysis of four published sources which aimed to define the timing of the gender divergence in athletic performance and relating it to the rise in circulating testosterone due to male puberty. DATA: Four data sources reflecting elite swimming and running and jumping track and field events as well as hand-grip strength in nonathletes were analysed to define the age-specific gender differences through adolescence and their relationship to the rising circulating testosterone during male puberty. RESULTS: The onset and tempo of gender divergence were very similar for swimming, running and jumping events as well as the hand-grip strength in nonathletes, and all closely paralleled the rise in circulating testosterone in adolescent boys. CONCLUSIONS: The gender divergence in athletic performance begins at the age of 12-13 years and reaches adult plateau in the late teenage years with the timing and tempo closely parallel to the rise in circulating testosterone in boys during puberty.

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  • In cisgender males, increases in testosterone due to puberty promote muscular strength in association with increased muscle cross-sectional area and increased lean muscle mass.

    “In cisgender males, increases in testosterone due to puberty promote muscular strength in association with increased muscle CSA, and increased lean muscle mass.26”

    From How does hormone transition in transgender women change body composition, muscle strength and haemoglobin? Systematic review with a focus on the implications for sport participation (2021) · cites this paper as [26]

    The Introduction and Discussion say that male puberty brings greater muscle mass and strength, and that testosterone increases both. The Discussion also refers to increased muscular size, but our copy does not specifically establish an increase in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA). (LLM, conf=0.83)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • From male puberty onward, a clear sex difference in athletic performance emerges, with a strong and ongoing male advantage.

    “from puberty onward a clear sex difference in athletic performance emerges as circulating testosterone concentrations rise in men”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

  • Prior to puberty, there is no sex difference in athletic performance.

    “Prior to puberty, there is no sex difference in circulating testosterone concentrations or athletic performance”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

  • Corresponding to endogenous circulating testosterone increasing in males after puberty to 15 to 20 nmol/L (sharply diverging from the circulating levels that remain <2 nmol/L in females), male athletic performances go from being equal on average to those of age-matched females to 10% to 12% better in running and swimming events, and 20% better in jumping events.

    “Corresponding to the endogenous circulating testosterone increasing in males after puberty to 15 to 20 nmol/L (sharply diverging from the circulating levels that remain <2 nmol/L in females), male athletic performances go from being equal on average to those of age-matched females to 10% to 12% better in running and swimming events, and 20% better in jumping events (8) (Fig. 1).”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

  • Age-grade competitive sports records show minimal or no female disadvantage prior to puberty, whereas from the age of male puberty onwards there is a strong and ongoing male advantage.

    “Age-grade competitive sports records show minimal or no female disadvantage prior to puberty, whereas from the age of male puberty onwards there is a strong and ongoing male advantage.”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [8]

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Authors
Handelsman, D. J.
Affiliations
The University of Sydney (AU)
Corresponding author
Handelsman, David J
ORCID
Handelsman, David J
Venue
Clinical Endocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2017-05-08
Volume
87
Issue
1
Pages
68-72
ISSN
  • 0300-0664 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2265
DOI
10.1111/cen.13350
OpenAlex
W2607086152
Cited by
142
References
29
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 5
FWCI
3.46
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Clinical Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
Keywords
sex differences in athletic performance, male puberty, circulating testosterone, adolescent boys, swimming performance, running performance, jump performance, grip strength, puberty onset
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Child, Humans, Male, Puberty, Sex Characteristics, Swimming, Testosterone, Hand Strength, Athletic Performance

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