Trans Health Research, Ivanhoe (2026)

28/05/2026

Recently, Prof Ada Cheung spoke at Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)'s Activate Conference in Adelaide, to a room of exercise and sports science professionals. Here's what she covered:

> People on estradiol-based gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) show no statistically significant difference in strength or performance over cis women in the latest meta-analysis, but more longitudinal evidence is needed (https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/60/3/198.info).

> People on testosterone GAHT gain lean mass and strength but remain intermediate to cis men, even after years of treatment.

> Only 14% of trans girls and 12% of trans boys play on a sports team, compared to 68% of the general youth sample. The participation crisis is bigger than the fairness debate.

> Inclusive practice is evidence-based practice.The headlines focus on elite fairness. The reality is most trans/gender-diverse people aren't moving enough, and they face anxiety, exclusionary rules, bullying, and inadequate facilities when they try.

Huge shout-out to PhD student Arden Wong, who presented his poster on longitudinal body composition changes in people starting GAHT. This is exactly the kind of prospective data that the field has been missing.

Read an evidence summary on GAHT and physical performance: https://www.transresearch.org.au/post/trans-women-in-sport

Thank you ESSA for the platform, and for an audience genuinely engaged with the science.

Image description: Text summarising the above post, displayed alongside two photos. The left photo shows Ada standing at a podium onstage, gesturing as she speaks into a microphone, wearing a grey suit jacket over a patterned shirt and dark-rimmed glasses. She has a dark brown bob hairstyle. The right photo shows Arden standing indoors near his poster presentation, smiling as he speaks to a person in the foreground. He has short, black hair, and is wearing a lanyard over a collared blue shirt. End description.

28/05/2026

Prof Ada Cheung recently joined a panel at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Hosted by Peter Mac Pride, it focused on the theme, "Small gestures, big impact: How inclusivity often exists in the small moments."

The conversation covered what real inclusion looks like in healthcare, how staff can be genuine allies, and the everyday interactions that shape whether LGBTQ+ patients feel safe and respected in clinical settings.

The barriers trans and gender diverse people face in healthcare are not just big events, they are also small moments which build up and impact a person’s trust. The encouraging flip side is that small, consistent acts of respect from staff can genuinely change patient experiences, and build trust.

Thank you to Peter Mac Pride for the invitation and for creating space for these conversations.

Honourable mention to Olive, Peter Mac's therapy dog, who attended in a full rainbow tutu and pride harness, and was easily the most attentive member of the audience.

Image description: Text displayed alongside three photos. The text summarises the event and thanks Peter Mac Pride, as previously written. Two photos show Ada sitting indoors onstage, listening to another presenter and speaking into a microphone. One photo shows Olive, a dog wearing a rainbow tutu and a Peter Mac lanyard, lying on a pink couch. End description.

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21/05/2026

Prof Ada Cheung spoke at Diabetes Victoria's IDAHOBIT event this week, unpacking a puzzle in gender-affirming hormone therapy research… What's driving elevated cardiovascular disease risk in trans and gender diverse people?

Insulin is the hormone that helps sugar from food get into cells for energy. Insulin resistance is when cells stop responding to it properly, so the body has to produce more and more insulin to keep blood sugar normal. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes, and it's also independently linked to higher cardiovascular risk.

Some studies of people on estradiol-based gender-affirming hormone therapy show changes in body composition, and increased insulin resistance. Despite these changes, existing research does NOT show a higher rate of diabetes diagnoses, compared to the general population. So, insulin resistance alone doesn't fully explain the elevated cardiovascular disease risk being seen in trans and gender diverse populations.

More research, done well and in partnership with community members, is needed.

Huge thanks to the engaged audience, both in the room and online. Your questions made the event.

Ada also loved learning about the Life! program, which is free, funded by the Victorian Government, and run by Diabetes Victoria. It helps people reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The conversation about making it more inclusive of LGBTIQ+ Victorians, who face real barriers to participating in physical activity and lifestyle programs, was a highlight. Prevention only works when everyone can access it.

Learn more about the Life! program here: https://lifeprogram.org.au/learn-about-life/

Image description: Text displayed alongside a photo. The text thanks Diabetes Victoria for holding their IDAHOBIT event. The photo shows Ada standing with Diabetes Victoria collaborators indoors, in front of a large screen which is displaying a research presentation, with rainbow flags and posters visible in the background. The group of six people are smiling happily, wearing business casual clothing. End description.

19/05/2026

Recently, Prof Ada Cheung had the privilege of visiting Hong Kong to meet with collaborators across two leading institutions, and to learn from local trans and gender diverse communities.

At Hong Kong Baptist University's Centre for Exercise Science and Medicine, Ada met with researchers to discuss policies around gender diverse inclusion in sport; an area where evidence and equity continue to be contested globally.

At The University of Hong Kong, Ada delivered a lecture titled, “The Science of Transgender Health: Evidence, Equity, and Allyship in Academia”. Students and staff across the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Centre for Su***de Research and Prevention generously shared their experiences, and the picture that emerged is sobering.

Hong Kong society remains strongly binary and gendered, with intense pressure to “pass”. This shapes everyday safety, visibility and self-expression, and leaves little room for non-binary or gender diverse identities. Filial piety, patrilineal continuity, marriage expectations, and high cost of living create pressures that Western coming out frameworks fail to capture.

According to the 2017 Chinese Transgender Population General Survey, family rejection is widespread and often violent. 99% had experienced domestic violence. 39% were completely rejected by their parents after disclosure. Family-aware support, including support for parents themselves, is essential.

Trans and gender diverse health is shaped by laws, families, healthcare systems, and cultural expectations. Research, clinical care, and advocacy all have to be grounded in that context, not exported from elsewhere.

Huge thanks to our colleagues at Hong Kong Baptist University and the University of Hong Kong for the warm welcome, and to the students, staff, and community members who shared their experiences so openly. We are looking forward to continued collaboration.

Image description: Four photos displayed alongside text which summarises Ada’s visit to Hong Kong. The photos show Ada standing with smiling staff, students, and community members, and presenting before a room of seated people. End description.

13/05/2026

Last week, Clare Headland (a proud trans woman) and Professor Ada Cheung had the privilege of guest lecturing on Gender and Health at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, to a warm and wonderfully diverse audience of students.

Clare generously shared her lived experience of what it means to be a 75-year-old trans woman. The struggles, the ongoing challenges, and the joy.

Ada spoke about trans and gender diverse health and the social determinants which shape it, also describing the factors that drive poor mental health outcomes. She emphasised the real-world impacts of misinformation, lack of acceptance, and the current global political environment.

We left the students with a call to be active allies. Not passive supporters, but people who speak up, ask questions, and use their future positions to push for safer, fairer healthcare for trans and gender diverse people.

Our hope is that they walked away with two things: A deeper understanding of the humanity of being gender diverse, and the drive to do something with that understanding.

Huge thanks to Clare for her openness and courage, and to the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health for the invitation. Education like this matters.

Image description: Text displayed alongside two photos. The text summarises the guest lecture, as previously described. The top photo shows Ada and Clare standing together indoors, smiling happily, Clare’s arm around Ada’s shoulders. Clare has long, grey hair, tied back into a bun, and she is wearing a red jacket over a black shirt, with wire-rimmed glasses; Ada has short, dark hair, and is wearing a white shirt and black-rimmed glasses. The bottom photo shows Clare speaking and gesturing to an indoor room of seated students. End description.

12/05/2026

Congratulations to THR research student Silver Argentum (It/She/They) for completing its final master’s thesis presentation!

Silver’s mixed-methods study explores the need and motives for trans and gender diverse adults accessing gender-affirming hormone therapy and surgery. Combining rich interview data with survey results from our longitudinal TRANSform study, Silver’s thesis provides novel insight and much-needed nuance for conversations around met and unmet need in gender-affirming care.

Image description: Text displayed alongside photos of Silver and other Trans Health Research team members. The text reads, “Congratulations to Silver Argentum! Final master’s thesis presentation on the need for adult gender-affirming care.” The photos show Silver presenting at a podium indoors in front of a large screen, wearing a dark dress with flower patterns, and standing with other team members indoors, smiling happily and holding a slice of cake on a plate. End description.

30/04/2026

We hear countless heartwarming stories in our research about how transformative and empowering sport can be, and we’re so grateful for these insights from our study participants. These stories are too beautiful to stay languishing in an excel spreadsheet, so we’re sharing the joy through some responses that really resonated with us.

Responses like this one from Scout*, reflect the profound benefits trans and gender diverse people can experience in sport, exercise, and movement spaces. As such, the THR team affirms our commitment to advocating for fairness, equality, and inclusion.

Image description: Scout’s quote displayed alongside a photo of someone wearing elbow pads and grinning happily, making a thumbs-up while skating; the person has dark, curly hair which is partly bleached, has arm tattoos, and is wearing a purple singlet, blue denim shorts, black eyeliner, and silver jewellery. Scout’s quote reads, “Sport, specifically roller derby, saved my life. It gave me a space to see strength in a diversity of people, and explore my own identity, and be supported and validated and seen.”

*Name generated for participant’s privacy.

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27/04/2026

Congratulations to THR Research Fellow Dr Brendan Nolan, who was recently invited to present on gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for trans and gender diverse adults at the 19th Asia Oceania Congress of Endocrinology in Taiwan.

Combining his recent groundbreaking study on the mental health benefits of GAHT with clinical experience, Dr Nolan was proud to present practical and evidence-based education to an international audience alongside colleagues from Hong Kong and Taiwan, in an informative and inspiring multidisciplinary symposium.

To read more peer-reviewed research about GAHT, mental health, and other trans health topics, head to the publications page on our website: https://www.transresearch.org.au/publications

Image description: Text displayed alongside three photos. The text reads, “International education: Data on the mental health benefits of gender-affirming hormone therapy and approaches to prescribing. Research Presentation by Dr Brendan Nolan at the Asia Oceana Congress of Endocrinology in Taiwan.” Left photo shows Brendan standing at a podium and smiling happily, wearing a blue suit and glasses. A sign on the podium reads, “Brendan Nolan (Australia)”. Top right photo shows a large screen displaying a bar graph with the heading, “Increasing numbers seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy”. Bottom right photo shows Brendan being presented with a printed certificate and a bear onstage. End description.

07/04/2026

As community members and clinicians, we've seen an increasing number of trans and gender diverse people–particularly non-binary people–opting for gender-affirming testosterone (T) at lower doses than the “standard” guidelines, which were based on cisgender male reference ranges.

International best practice guidelines emphasise that all gender-affirming care needs to be tailored to the individual's unique goals and healthcare needs. Our team's recent retrospective audit looked into how low-dose T is being utilised in practice locally; which formulations are prescribed, at which doses, how this affects the amount of testosterone in the body, and how common it is to remain on this lower dose.

This paper provides much-needed information for the sector, supporting clinicians and community members alike to make informed decisions about low-dose T options. We also specify areas where further research is needed.

You can read more here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cen.70110

Image description: Three photos displayed above text. The text references low-dose T, as previously discussed. The top left photo shows a non-binary person with curly black hair, bleached white eyebrows, and dark red lipstick, laughing and wearing a white shirt. The lower left photo shows a person with short, wavy black hair, wearing transparent glasses and a yellow hoodie, smiling happily. The right photo shows a mature-aged non-binary person with partly-shaved blond hair, wearing a brown vest, white suit shirt, and a patterned blue tie. They are smiling peacefully. End description.

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02/04/2026

Many people in this country are currently dealing with increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and worry about the future. We also know that, in addition to other stressors, holiday periods can be tough for trans and gender diverse people, particularly folks whose families are unaccepting.

Over the following days and weeks, we want you to know that you are not alone. There is a wide range of support services you can access, some which are LGBTQ-specific, and we have compiled a list on our website: https://www.transresearch.org.au/community/mental

We hope that you can find support and strength in your chosen family, friends, partners, or fellow community members. If you do need extra support, please remember that you can always reach out for help, even if it’s hard.

We know that many community members may be providing support to other trans and gender diverse people, which can be tiring. We hope that you can take care of yourself, and show yourself the same compassion that you offer to others.

Image description: Text displayed alongside a photo. The text reads, “If you are struggling right now, you are not alone. If you are dealing with anxiety, depression, stress, or other difficult feelings, support is available,” followed by, “Collated resources: https://bit.ly/thr-mental-health”. The photo shows an androgynous person sitting in a bus stop, looking down at their phone, wearing white headphones. They have short, shaved hair, dyed bright green. They are wearing a black-and-white chequered hoodie over a black hoodie and black shirt. End description.

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Trans Health Research

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