Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest is committed to making sure you have the support and resources you need if you are considering gender-affirming hormone therapy.

There are several different medications administered through self-injection. Should you opt for hormone treatment, your clinician will speak with you in depth in order to help select the right medication for you.

Types of Self-Injection

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 muscle tissue, allowing it 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 an intramuscular injection. Subcutaneous injections can be given at a 45° or 90° angle.

Injection Guide

The hormone therapy self-injection guide is intended to provide in-depth instructions on how to self-inject your medication. You can download a copy below.

Injection Guide (English)

Injection Guide (Spanish)