Why cant gay men donae blood

For years, Jose Dominguez, 50, had wanted to donate blood, feeling it was part of his civic duty. But he was restricted by rules set in place by the U. Food and Drug Administration that did not allow sexually active gay men from donating. That finally changed in Maywhen the FDA dropped all restrictions specific to gay and bisexual men donating blood, moving to a new blood donation risk assessment tool that is the same for every donor regardless of how they identify, which rolled out in August In March of this year, Dominguez finally donated blood for the first time, and he did so with his husband, Craig Burdett.

For Burdett, 62, it was the first time he had donated blood sincewhen he began openly identifying as gay. It is such a privilege to be able to do that and one day, we will,'" he continued. It's finally happening. So, did the rule change bring in more donors? Blood donation organizations say although it's a bit too soon to tell, early data seems to indicate it did make a difference.

Why cant gay men donae blood led to the FDA instituting a lifetime ban on gay and bisexual men from donating blood as well as women who have sex with men who have sex with men. Inthe blanket ban was repealed, but the FDA placed restrictions on men who have sex with men, saying they could donate if they were abstinent from sex for at least one year.

Inthis was shortened to a period of 90 days of abstinence. Inthe FDA announced it would no longer be issuing blanket bans due to sexual orientation and instead screen potential donors on their risk of contracting and transmitting HIV, with the policy going into effect in August.

At the time, the federal health agency said it would use "gender-inclusive, individual risk-based questions" without compromising "the safety or availability of the blood supply. Questionnaires ask all donors about new or multiple sexual partners in the past three months.

Those who have had a new sexual partner or multiple partners in the past three months and a history of anal sex during that time period will be deferred. The new blood donation risk assessment is the same for every donor regardless of how they identify. Burdett, who runs a freelance web design business, grew up with a mother who was a regular blood donor due to a rare blood type, though he can't remember what type exactly.

He said she would get calls in the middle of the night to donate and, when she did, she would take him and his younger brother along with her. And so, I grew up giving blood every eight to 10 weeks, whenever I remembered that it was time, I gave blood until I came out as a gay man in the mids.

The last time Burdett donated blood was in At the time, the FDA still had a lifetime ban for blood donations from gay and bisexual men. Not being able to do so because of sexual orientation made him feel excluded from a community he'd been part of for so many years.

Dominguez said that growing up, he had many family members in hospitals due to health problems.

Changes to blood and plasma donation in 2024

When he would visit, he would see people donating blood, but he knew he couldn't, and it made him feel "ostracized. I'm thinking, 'Oh, my God, I'm being ostracized. When the couple first heard during the COVID pandemic that the FDA was considering rolling out a new policy that did away with most deferrals, Dominguez was optimistic, but Burdett was doubtful.

So when it was that we really could give blood, I was really surprised -- surprised and super happy. Blood donation organizations said early data indicates that the policy has made a difference -- bringing back donors who were previously unable to give blood. Local organizations report similar results.