Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he does not believe "biological males" should be allowed to compete in women's sport.
The debate over the inclusion of transgender athletes in sport has been brought into sharp focus in recent months due to the high-profile cases of American swimmer Lia Thomas and British cyclist Emily Bridges.
Speaking on a number of issues, which included defending his controversial decision to scrap plans to ban trans conversion therapy, Johnson said: "I don't think biological males should be competing in female sporting events.
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"Maybe that's a controversial thing to say, but it just seems to me to be sensible.
"I also happen to think that women should have spaces - whether it's in hospitals, prison or changing rooms - which are dedicated to women. That's as far as my thinking has developed on this issue.
"If that puts me in conflict with some others, then we have got to work it all out.
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"It doesn't mean I'm not immensely sympathetic to people who want to change gender, to transition and it's vital we give people the maximum love and support in making those decisions.
"These are complex issues and they can't be solved with one swift, easy piece of legislation. It takes a lot of thought to get this right."
Last month, Thomas became the first transgender athlete to win a US national college swimming title with victory in the women's 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships.
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Thomas, 22, swam for the University of Pennsylvania's men's team for three years before starting hormone replacement therapy in 2019.
Her victory has proved controversial, with some of her competitors unhappy with the decision to allow her to compete.
Bridges, 21, began hormone therapy in 2021 and had been allowed to enter women's events by British Cycling because of her lowered levels of testosterone.
She was expected to feature in the National Omnium Championships last weekend, which would have been her first elite women’s race, but was barred from competing after being ruled ineligible by cycling's world governing body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
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The UCI and British Cycling require riders to have had testosterone levels of below five nanomoles per litre for a 12-month period.
However, the UCI can allow themselves an extra six weeks once the 12-month period has passed to review an individual case, which they will now do with Bridges.
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Bridges has criticised the decision to prevent her from competing in the Championships, where she was set to come up against several British Olympians - including Dame Laura Kenny.
"I have provided both British Cycling and the UCI with medical evidence that I meet the eligibility criteria for transgender female cyclists, including that my testosterone limit has been far below the limit prescribed by the regulations for the last 12 months," Bridges said.
"Despite the public announcement, I still have little clarity around their finding of my ineligibility under their regulations.
"I am an athlete, and I just want to race competitively again. No one should have to choose between being who they are and participating in the sport that they love."
Rory O'Callaghan