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Gender-Affirming Care

Proud to Provide Gender-Affirming Care

Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH) is proud to provide gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, in a safe, judgment-free, and compassionate environment. We’re committed to helping you access this care as smoothly and easily as possible. Below are some helpful resources and tips to prepare you for your first hormone therapy visit with us.
 

Our Services:

  • Testosterone hormone therapy (commonly known as “masculinizing” hormone therapy)
  • Estrogen/antiandrogen hormone therapy (commonly known as “feminizing” hormone therapy)
  • Care coordination
  • Birth control
  • STI testing & treatment
  • HIV prevention, testing & counseling
  • Cancer screenings
  • Primary care


To begin care:

At PPGOH, you’re in charge of your care, which is why we want to ensure you have all of the information and resources you need to make informed choices. At the time of your appointment, you’ll receive all of the information about your medication, including the benefits, risks, and expected side effects and changes.
Criteria to start hormone therapy includes, but is not limited to:

  • Ability to give informed consent
  • Age of majority (18+ years old)

A therapist’s letter is not required to begin hormone therapy at our health centers. However, many people find therapy to be beneficial, particularly during what can often be an exciting and/or stressful time. Our health centers are happy to recommend trans- and nonbinary - friendly therapists in the area.

PPGOH is Proud to Provide Gender-Affirming Care to Adults in Ohio

On February 7, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services released revised proposed rules on gender-affirming care after an outpouring of public comment. These new proposed rules no longer apply to adults accessing gender-affirming care.

Gender-affirming care for adults ages 18+ is safe and legal here in Ohio. We are proud to offer these services at all 15 of our health centers and through telehealth. 

We are right alongside you in your journey to becoming your most authentic, complete self. Our doors are open, and we are here to provide the high-quality, inclusive care you deserve in a welcoming environment.

Learn About Gender-Affirming Care at PPGOH

 

Fees & Insurance:

Medicaid and most private insurance providers cover gender-affirming hormone therapy. If you’re unsure whether your insurance provider will cover hormone therapy, we encourage contacting them or getting a copy of the Member Handbook for your plan. The Trans Health Project is also a great resource for tips on what to look for to ensure your care is covered and that there are no surprise costs.

For patients who currently don’t have insurance, our health centers offer payment plans and other options that ensure affordable and accessible care for all.
 

Your Privacy:

All of your medical information is confidential and protected under Federal law.

Be aware if you plan to use private insurance through a parent or spouse that whoever is the primary plan holder can typically see what services you have been provided at your appointment through the Explanation of Benefits they may receive from the insurance plan. If confidentiality is a concern for you, our staff can help you decide what to do.

Locations Currently Offering Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy:

Akron Health Center 

Athens Health Center

Bedford Heights Health Center

Canton Health Center

Cleveland Health Center

Franklinton Health Cener 

Kent Health Center 

Lorain Health Center

Mansfield Health Center

North Columbus Health Center

Old Brooklyn Health Center 

Rocky River Health Center

Toledo Health Center

Warren Health Center

Youngstown Health Center

Your first visit

For your first visit, please anticipate staying for an hour to an hour and a half. You will meet with one of our medical associates and answer a few health history and personal information questions. Then they will go over our informed consent form with you. This will include information on the side effects and what to expect, and the permanent and temporary changes due to hormone replacement therapy. You will then meet with a clinician and talk about your health, support systems, and generally get to know each other. After figuring out next best steps, you clinician will draw blood for labs as a base. This ensures that there won’t be complications and that we’ll have comparisons throughout your process. These labs results will return in a few days and our staff will be in contact with you.

What to bring
Please bring ID and medical insurance information (if you are planning on using it). You may also bring any labs you have had done in the past six months. If you are currently being prescribed hormones from another provider you may bring health records.

Follow-up
Every follow-up visit will involve checking in with clinicians about your progress, a blood pressure screening, asking any questions you may have, and a discussion on next steps.

Continued care
We’re here to build relationships with our patients, provide you with case management services, and connect you to other services and resources available in the community.

Injection Guides

During your visit, you were provided a written self-injection guide for either IM injections or SQ injections. You can also download a copy of these guides below.

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Intramuscular (IM)

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Subcutaneous (SQ)

PPGOH also understands that many people are visual learners and is sharing instructional videos below to supplement the written guides. There is one video for IM injections and one video for SQ injections. Please make sure you are watching the right video for the medication you have been prescribed.

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Intramuscular (IM)

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Intramuscular (IM)

An IM injection places the medicine deep into the muscle.

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Subcutaneous (SQ)

How to Give Yourself a Hormone Injection: Subcutaneous (SQ)

An SQ injection places the medication in the subcutaneous tissue right below the skin. This allows the medication to absorb more slowly than an IM injection.

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