Attn Pilots: Any FAA Medical Experience?

[Mikaela]

I've been considering seeing someone for hormones/therapy for non-TS level GID to balance out the gender switching and make sure this is truly a gender issue and not a 'mental' one.

Do any of you gals who've taken hormones for therapy (either GID or full out transition) gone through the FAA Medical hoops? Since everything needs to be reported, I'm not really keen on trying it out at the risk of my privileges, since that would mean reporting a potential psych/therapist eval (big red flag) andthe Rx itself.

Did the AME raise an eyebrow?

Thanks

[Michaelasfun]

Hi Mikaela,

No personal experience with HRT, but I do hold a Commercial certificate. Check out the last paragraph on this link, it addresses the situation. Similar to depression diagnoses, it sounds like there's a good chance they'll defer to HQ:
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/app_process/exam_tech/item41/amd/grs/

[Mikaela]

Ugh, bugger. Thanks. I was looking more in the psych stuff, not the genitals.

[Laura912]

Any way you can ask AOPA? If you were a member they would be a big help. If you are not a member, please consider joining!

[Mikaela]

I am a member of AOPA, but I just got a bunch more info and have decided that I won't risk things by going down this path.

A diagnosis of GID carries all the psych issues of depression or other mental disorders. Everything gets deferred to OKC. Will need psych referral, documentation, etc.
Hormone therapy carries it's own issues. Mandatory grounding during initial phases until dosage and symptoms stabilize. Full bloodwork and other stuff sent to OKC. Annual reports sent in during HRT.

Can take up to a year for approval of everything..

The FAA ultimately doesn't care as long as you are fit to fly and there are TG and TS pilots, but it raises so many red flags and puts you into the bureaucracy of the system instead of simply getting issued again at the local doctor. It also permanently flags your record and an annual status report from a physician must be submitted until hormones are discontinued. Even after that, all medicals need to be done through special issuance. At least, this is what I'm understanding between the link given to me above and some other case studies and stuff I've found.

Decision: I won't take hormones for non-transitioning GID therapy because the aviation repercussions are too much and too many. I'll just have to deal with it.

http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=local&sc3=&id=76237
http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/app_process/exam_tech/item41/amd/grs/ (Last paragraph)
http://www.faa.gov/library/reports/medical/fasmb/media/200904_color.pdf (page 6)