Notes:
The process for a Female to Male transsexual is similar.
It begins with Mental Health Therapy*, including a Diagnosis of GID. After a few months, a letter is written for hormones.
The patient makes quarterly doctor's office visits* to prescribe and monitor hormones.
The patient fills the hormone prescription* and take the medications.
After careful planning, the next step taken will be to 'transition' - that is, to begin living full time in the new gender.
Shortly after the transition, there is usually a legal name change.
After a few months of hormones, the patient will have 'top surgery'” (a double mastectomy.)
After completion of RLE, 2 letters are written supporting eligibility for surgery.
Other surgeries, collectively called 'bottom surgeries*', may or may not be appropriate for each situation.
Possible bottom surgeries include a hysterectomy, and either a metoidioplasty or phalloplasty.
For the rest of his life, the transsexual will need maintenance-level hormones (a much smaller dose) and semi-annual doctor's office visits to monitor them.
Thus, HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) can be divided into two parts: Transitional (the first 2 years, higher doses to change the body) and Maintenance (lower doses, but for a longer period of time.)
* Medical expenses are marked with an asterisk.