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Hormone Therapy Self Injection Tutorials

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.

Injection Guides

During your visit, you were provided a written self-injection guide for either IM injections or SubQ injections. These guides are intended to serve as in-depth instructions on how to self-inject your medication. If you do not have a copy of the self-injection guide you need, you can download a copy below.

How to Give Yourself an IM Injection (English)

How to Give Yourself an SQ Injection (English)

Cómo Ponerse Usted Mismo una Inyección - Subcutanea (Español) 

Cómo Ponerse Usted Mismo una Inyección - Intramuscular (Español)

Videos

PPWP is pleased to present the below video tutorials on how to prepare and administer a self-injection. Videos are available in English and Spanish for both intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SQ) injections. Please make sure you are watching the right video for the medication you have been prescribed! 

Transcripts are also available for download beside each video if they are needed or desired. All materials were prepared by and are provided courtesy of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas.

IM Injection Video

IM Injection Video

IM Injection Video Transcript - English

IM Injection Video - Spanish

IM Injection Video - Spanish

IM Injection Video Transcript - Spanish

SubQ Injection Video

SubQ Injection Video

SubQ Injection Video Transcript

SubQ Injection Video - Spanish

SubQ Injection Video - Spanish

SubQ Injection Video Transcript - Spanish

PPWP is proud to be your sexual healthcare provider in every way. In addition to hormone therapy services, please know that preventive care visits, STD testing and treatment, HIV testing, HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), immunizations, clinical breast exams, cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccines, pregnancy testing, abortion care, and other healthcare services are also available for transgender patients.

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