Transition: Medical
For me personally, this is where transition started in December of 2005. I called to see if a local endocrinologist was accepting patients (she was recommended by some other women I know). Sadly she was not, yet again I am very happy how it turned out. She told me to contact a family physician she had worked with and had attended a couple of her "talks". He has zero experience with transsexuals but he us absolutely amazing. I go to him for absolutely everything. I wont go into dosages here as I am not a medical professional, but I'm currently on estrodial, progesterone and spirinolactone. Results have been quite astounding to both me and my family! I started on premarin and took that for a few years, but I can get estrodial cheaper! Sadly, much of transition is based on this one fact: Money Matters (and I have none!)
I personally believe it is very important to go through the hormonal process with a health care professional. Even if your doctor, like mine, has limited resources for gender identity disorder he or she can run the appropriate blood work. Which helps to ensure that you are healthy. Hormone replacement therapy can affect the heart, liver and kidneys among much more. It may seem like a simple process but you are changing yourself physiologically here. So be careful, and be smart. You may end up *heart*ing your doctor like I do!
Now in terms of the SOC you are supposed to have a letter from your therapist in order to start your hormones. In theory this is to keep someone from transition that is doing it for the wrong reasons (like trying to be someone they think they should be, doing it for attention etc). Be honest and upfront with the professionals you deal with here.