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Self-Injection Videos

Informational videos for patients administering hormone therapy intramuscular (IM) injections and subcutaneous (SubQ) injections.

We're here to help you on your journey.

Congratulations on beginning Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy! Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast (PPGC) is dedicated to ensuring you have the support and resources you need during your transition.

If you are on this webpage, you have been prescribed a medication that is administered through self-injection. There are several different medications administered through self-injection, including testosterone cypionate, estradiol cypionate, testosterone valerate, and estradiol valerate. Your clinician should have spoken with you in depth about your options to select the right one for you, but be sure to contact them if you have any unanswered questions.

Types of Self-Injections

There are two types of self-injections: intramuscular (IM) injections and subcutaneous (SubQ) injections.

An intramuscular injection is a way of injecting medication deep into the muscle tissue. This allows the medication to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Intramuscular shots are given at a 90° angle with the needle going straight through the skin into the muscle.

A subcutaneous injection is a way of injecting medication into the subcutaneous tissue that is directly under the skin. Medication given this way absorbs into the bloodstream more slowly than medication injected directly into the muscle. Subcutaneous injections can be given at a 45° or 90° angle.

Videos

PPGC understands that many people are visual learners and has included the instructional videos below to supplement the written materials you have received. There are videos for both IM injections and SubQ injections available in English and Spanish versions. Please make sure you are watching the right video for the medication you have been prescribed.

PPGC is committed to ensuring that these videos are accessible to people who are hearing impaired or who need video transcripts for any other reason. You can download copies of the video transcripts below.

IM Injection Video (English)

IM Injection Video (English)

IM Injection Video Transcript (English)

IM Injection Video (Spanish)

IM Injection Video (Spanish)

IM Injection Video Transcript (Spanish)

SubQ Injection Video (English)

SubQ Injection Video (English)

SubQ Injection Video Transcript (English)

SubQ Injection Video (Spanish)

SubQ Injection Video (Spanish)

SubQ Injection Video Transcript (Spanish)