quote:Originally posted by Tiggeress: were born in, or lived in, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea,Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria, since 1977.
That's me out, too, for giving blood in America; I lived in Nigeria after 1977.
That one isn't asked in Australia, where I used to give blood. However, I am now excluded from giving blood here because I spent more than six months in the UK after Mad Cow Disease got going there.
My husband also lived in Nigeria and UK at the same times, and his blood group is the valuable O negative. When Australia introduced the prohibition against UK residents, the local Red Cross rang him up to make sure he gave blood before the law came in, as though his blood would suddenly become contaminated after a certain date.
THe laws may be stupid, but they are the laws; since they are merely preventing us from being generous, I think that there are worse things to complain about.
-------------------- Yours, &c
Linden Posts: 190 | From: Australia | Registered: Mar 2004
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OT, but I read the title as "Gay Blood and Sex Drives"
Carry on
-------------------- Me: "He's 19? Uh oh, I bought him a beer." A: "You contributed to the deliquency of a minor in drag!" "Sweet spell check: keeping drunks off the radar since 1995."- IND GodRe-AnimateGreenPorkBush Posts: 3986 | From: Illinois, jealous? | Registered: Nov 2005
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ILS: Thanks for your input. I'm not worried about anyone finding out, however next time I'll go ahead and check yes on that fatefull question and have my little conference and see what will be
Posts: 45 | From: Memphis, TN | Registered: Mar 2005
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quote:Originally posted by kingfan1978: anal sex involves more possible bleeding & tearing at first than vaginal sex & might therefore be a little higher risk when considering the transfer of STDs.
Like I said, just my guess...
You are completely correct by your guess. The vaginal wall is more durable as it has a higher level of elasticity and is much thicker than the anus, rectum, colon, ect... The vagina also naturally reacts to the body when aroused, slightly opening to allow the penis to enter. Gay sex is not necessarily discriminated against by the Red Cross, just the fact that there is an elevated risk of transfering STDs.
Posts: 56 | From: Sturgis, MI | Registered: Dec 2005
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I agree with what Steph said. That's what we learned about it in our psychologly class, at least, when it came to HIV and STDs.
this topic reminds me of on "Strong Medicine", where Dana had a blind date and their dinner reservations were delayed, so she got him to donate some blood. And he couldn't say 'no' to that question, which ended her blind date with him. lol.
Sorry for getting a little OT, thought I'd mention that. Geni
-------------------- As heard on "Street Smarts": Q: Chicago has 2 professional baseball teams. The Cubs and....what is the other one? Hint: It's something you probably don't wear a lot.
quote:Originally posted by Canuckistan: It's standard up here in Canada, too. In fact, it's been the subject of protest from a lot of gay activists, especially on university campuses.
Yes I can remember when thanks to those "gay activists" it took far to long for the Red Cross to do something about making sure those rules were in place. And, especially in the '80s that was a fatal delay for many. Sometimes being politically correct can be a stupid stupid thing.
-------------------- If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, it's just possible you haven't grasped the situation. - Jean Kerr Posts: 18428 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Sabrina_Fairchild: I agree with what Steph said. That's what we learned about it in our psychologly class, at least, when it came to HIV and STDs.
this topic reminds me of on "Strong Medicine", where Dana had a blind date and their dinner reservations were delayed, so she got him to donate some blood. And he couldn't say 'no' to that question, which ended her blind date with him. lol.
Sorry for getting a little OT, thought I'd mention that. Geni
I was thinking of that, too, but admitting it would mean admitting I once watched Lifetime at some point, and really crappy medical shows on Lifetime no less. Anyway, that actually somewhat annoyed me, but I guess some people don't like the thought of dating someone bisexual. (Some misguided idea that they are practicing deviant sexual activities or are overly promiscuous or something, would be my guess.) I personally don't mind it, and two out of my last three girlfriends have been bisexual, but I guess things are a little different for guys dating bi-girls than girls dating bi-guys, too.
-------------------- “I really feel like this is part of my life's work....It's part of what I want to do with my time here....So if I can make a difference at all by talking openly about myself, I'm glad.” - Anthony Rapp, Without You, pp. 206-207 Posts: 592 | From: Kenduskeag, ME | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Sabrina_Fairchild: I agree with what Steph said. That's what we learned about it in our psychologly class, at least, when it came to HIV and STDs.
this topic reminds me of on "Strong Medicine", where Dana had a blind date and their dinner reservations were delayed, so she got him to donate some blood. And he couldn't say 'no' to that question, which ended her blind date with him. lol.
Sorry for getting a little OT, thought I'd mention that. Geni
It is my understanding that you can still give blood but it can't be used for donations. I give blood when my weight and iron levels allow and I like to ask questions. One of the first questions I had was what they did with blood which people marked "do not use" (they have little bar codes that you place on your bag, one says to use it and the other one says not to but no one else knows which sticker you put on your bag). Anyway the answer I received was that the blood was discarded. Of course this brought up the question of why bother. The answer to that was so the donor could basicaly save face with the community. If this is true that's a really stupid reason not to mentioned a waste and a posible health hazard for nothing.
I've always wondered how valid those surveys are anyway. I'm not saying people intentionaly lie. I'm just saying I think a lot of people answer some of the questions without knowing. Heck I asked about what one of the odd sounding diseases were because I didn't recognize the name. Since I didn't recognize the name it was likely that I was never infected by it but I was curious about it none-the-less. Turned out to be the real name for mad cow disease. I guess people knowingly exposed to it would know the name but I think most people just check off stuff without even knowing what they are answering. Also if a woman sleeps around a lot there's a good chance she has had sex with a man who had sex with another man (who probably didn't tell her). How often in casual relations does the question of whether or not your partner has ever accepted money or drugs for sex come up? Perhaps they should have a "are you a slut? yes/no" question on there as well. Or maybe "even have you ever been raped?" Yeah, they'd go over about as well as a lead balloon but such individuals should also be in a higher risk group.
-------------------- "The question for joining the protected forum for real magicians should be:
What is the use of women?" Steve W. from JREF's 'This is no fun' Posts: 7622 | From: North Carolina | Registered: Aug 2002
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A friend of mine who is gay wnt to donate blood. Being the honest person that he is, he answered truthfully. They never even tested the iron content of his blood, they just told him "thank you for your interest, but we cannot accept your blood. And we are putting you in our registry of people not allowed to donate blood ever" or something to that effect. He was really pissed.
Posts: 16 | From: Tacoma, WA | Registered: Dec 2005
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Hopefully he's not going to go back and lie.
FWIW, here in New Zealand we have that question too. I'm pretty sure it's more a 'further discussion' than 'absolute rejection'. However, I don't think there is the question about women who've slept with men who've slept with men. I'm a sexually active woman, and I don't remember that question.
It's as discriminatory as higher insurance for young people. Yes, it's unfair if you don't personally fit the stereotype it's based on. But sometimes (especially in health) it's just easier to make blanket rulings that are unfair than to take each case on it's merits and assume nobody lies.
-------------------- "We don't keep a certified whale-vomit expert on staff." - Larry Penny, Director, Natural Resources Department, Town of East Hampton Posts: 377 | From: New Zealand | Registered: Nov 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Sabrina_Fairchild: I agree with what Steph said. That's what we learned about it in our psychologly class, at least, when it came to HIV and STDs.
this topic reminds me of on "Strong Medicine", where Dana had a blind date and their dinner reservations were delayed, so she got him to donate some blood. And he couldn't say 'no' to that question, which ended her blind date with him. lol.
Sorry for getting a little OT, thought I'd mention that. Geni
It is my understanding that you can still give blood but it can't be used for donations. I give blood when my weight and iron levels allow and I like to ask questions. One of the first questions I had was what they did with blood which people marked "do not use" (they have little bar codes that you place on your bag, one says to use it and the other one says not to but no one else knows which sticker you put on your bag). Anyway the answer I received was that the blood was discarded. Of course this brought up the question of why bother. The answer to that was so the donor could basicaly save face with the community. If this is true that's a really stupid reason not to mentioned a waste and a posible health hazard for nothing.
Yes, that discard spot is there so people can save face. Think about this - you're HIV positive and you work in an office where no one knows and you know if they did, you run the risk of being fired over it. Peer pressure to go donate and without a reason, you feel you can't say no to going... would you rather do it and be able to say no, don't use it privately or face the possible consequences?
Posts: 229 | From: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: Jan 2005
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quote:Originally posted by Canuckistan: It's standard up here in Canada, too. In fact, it's been the subject of protest from a lot of gay activists, especially on university campuses.
Yes I can remember when thanks to those "gay activists" it took far to long for the Red Cross to do something about making sure those rules were in place. And, especially in the '80s that was a fatal delay for many. Sometimes being politically correct can be a stupid stupid thing.
Wasn't just that.. Red Cross didn't want to spend the money on the testing.
Posts: 229 | From: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: Jan 2005
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The test for HIV is not 100%, absolutely, without a doubt foolproof, just like any other test. Even if it was, it takes months for a person who is HIV positive to seroconvert and develop detectable antibodies. These questions are designed to try and help screen out blood that has a higher than average risk of certain blood borne diseases. Case in point - why did so many hemophiliacs develop HIV in the early 80s? Because when they have a bleeding episode, they need 8-10 bottles of factor concentrate. It take approximately 10,000 donors to make 1 bottle of concentrate. So a series of 10 bottles, they were exposed to 80,000 to 100,000 donors.
Posts: 229 | From: Lynchburg, VA | Registered: Jan 2005
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I'm gay and have answered yes on the information sheet but I was still allowed to donate. All blood is screened for HIV/AIDS and other various diseases before it is used. If you get a positive result for anything the blood isn't used and you receive a phone call telling you that you are ill. Being gay doesn't exclude you from blood donation.
-------------------- "Whoah! That's more queer than a $1 bill!" "Dude, no way! So am I!" Posts: 11 | From: Charlotte, NC | Registered: Nov 2005
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On that note, why do you have to wait a year aftet a piercing before you can donate blood again? What are they waiting for that takes a year to surface?
-------------------- "For me, religion is like a rhinoceros: I don't have one, and I'd really prefer not to be trampled by yours. But it is impressive, and even beautiful, and, to be honest, the world would be slightly worse off if there weren't any." -Silas Sparkhammer Posts: 3239 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Sep 2003
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Rhiandmoi
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
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I think it is hepatitis B.
-------------------- I think that hyperbole is the single greatest factor contributing to the decline of society. - My friend Pat.
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What I find fascinating (and a little off topic) is that, according the American Red Cross, I could feasibly donate blood after I leave Ghana (we're not one of the West African countries that's completely excluded), I would just have to wait 3 years because I have been living in a malaria country. However, I am excluded for the rest of my life because I spent a combined total of 5 years in European countries that have Mad Cow.
Note that I don't eat meat and have never had a blood transfusion. Apparently there are other ways to get Mad Cow?
On the topic of the women who've had sex with a man who has had sex with another man, while it's not on the Red Cross form anymore, I really think I recall it being a question back in the early 1990's, but it could be bad recollection or a state specific issue. I remember it because an ex boyfriend of mine at the time had come out to me that he was bisexual (while he insisted that he had never had sex with a man at that time-I don't know for a fact that he was telling the truth) and I was unsure as to what to mark on the blood donation form.
ETA: I just looked at the Red Cross website again and it says
quote: HIV, AIDS You should not give blood if you have AIDS or have ever had a positive HIV test, or if you have done something that puts you at risk for becoming infected with HIV.
You are at risk for getting infected if you:
* have ever used needles to take drugs, steroids, or anything not prescribed by your doctor * are a male who has had sexual contact with another male, even once, since 1977 * have ever taken money, drugs or other payment for sex since 1977 * have had sexual contact in the past 12 months with anyone described above
Which I think is where the question of woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with another man comes from.
-------------------- May those that love us, love us. And those that don't may God turn their hearts, and if He can't turn their hearts may He turn their ankles so we'll know them by their limping. Posts: 63 | From: Ghana, West Africa/Houston, TX | Registered: Sep 2005
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It's on the questionnaire here in Nebraska. I gave blood exactly one week ago. Interestingly, they no longer do the bar code "this is your last chance to tell us if your blood isn't safe" thing.
-------------------- Too broke to pay attention Posts: 452 | From: Omaha, NE | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:Originally posted by kingfan1978: It was on the forms here in Indiana, too.
I have a guess about why it's on there....maybe a medical professional can tell if it's even logical. I'm thinking the logic behind that question may be that anal sex involves more possible bleeding & tearing at first than vaginal sex & might therefore be a little higher risk when considering the transfer of STDs.
Like I said, just my guess...
Thats certainly possible, even sensible, however wouldn't a better way to phrase the question then be "have you ever had anal sex?" rather then "sex with another man"? After all last time I checked women are still capable of having anal sex, if its truly about the risk of STD transmission through a higher-risk sexual activity then I would think that would be relevant.
It makes sense, but part of how its phrased makes me think its just lag from the notion that AIDS is a gay mans disease.. But I could be wrong.
Needless to say I have numerous medical textbooks that list being gay as a high risk behavior.. Medicine is not without its prejudices and is slow to change.
-------------------- "All people are responsible for the good that they didn't do" Posts: 4774 | From: Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Chimera, not only does it allow you to save face, but just the act of donating blood is good for the donor. I asked the same question you did once when I went in to donate blood, and that's the answer they gave me. A quick Google search turns up two articles, one from LifeSouth and one from CNN that say giving blood is healthy for you.
-------------------- Heisenberg may have slept here.
I got an idea... an idea so smart my head would explode if I even began to know what I was talking about. Posts: 291 | From: Greenville, SC | Registered: Apr 2005
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Rhiandmoi
Ding Dong! Merrily on High Definition TV
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I believe the homosexual male sex exclusion is a holdover from when people that had homosexual male sex had the highest incidence of HIV. They also rule out other percieved high risk groups. I personally think that the homosexual male sex exclusion is outdated and should be replaced with a casual/high risk sex in general exclusion. But that would make the questionaire much more complicated.
-------------------- I think that hyperbole is the single greatest factor contributing to the decline of society. - My friend Pat.
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You also can't donate (at least last time I went) if you've had sex for money or had sex with an intravenous drug user.
-------------------- Officially Heartless Posts: 3065 | From: The Montgomery County of the West Coast- Berkeley, CA | Registered: Nov 2005
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Well Canadian Blood Services asks, "Have you ever had sex with a person who's sexual history you are unsure of?" or something like that. They also ask, individually, if you've had sex with an intravenous drug user, somebody who's taken drugs or money for sex, somebody who's had sex with somebody who's taken drugs or money for sex, and a man who's had sex with a man.
I like the idea of the "do not use" stickers, but there are so many reasons for blood not to be accepted. My friend had a runny nose and was turned down. The guidelines are very strict, so even if you have to save face you can just lie and say you were sick, or you did cocaine that morning or had a recent piercing/tattoo/acupuncture session or something like that. hmm. Lind"B+"iglo
-------------------- A woman's dress should be like a barbed-wire fence: serving its purpose without obstructing the view. -Sophia Loren Posts: 1835 | From: Toronto | Registered: Nov 2000
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quote:The Food and Drug Administration is considering revising its policy that bars as a blood donor any man who has had sex with another man since 1977, officials said yesterday.
The change in policy is being recommended by the American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks and America's Blood Centers, which collect virtually all the blood used for transfusions nationwide.
quote:Originally posted by Tiggeress: were born in, or lived in, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Equatorial Guinea,Gabon, Niger, or Nigeria, since 1977.
Or if you've had sex with anyone who fits that description. That almost got me tossed off the list once, due to a clueless interviewer. I told her that I had an ex-girlfriend who had lived in Africa but not in any of those countries. The exchange went something like this:
"She lived in Central African Republic?" "No, Namibia." "Oh, that's okay, we're only concerned with Africa." "Well, she did live in Africa, just not any of those countries. Is that okay?" "Central African Republic?" And so on. It took me a while to realize she thought those eight countries were the only ones in Africa.
-------------------- Another lifetime I'd have fallen in love with you Swept away by my feelings, ashamed and confused But just now it's enough to be walking with you Let the mystery play as it will! -Lui Collins Posts: 2669 | From: Jouy en Josas, France | Registered: May 2005
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When I gave blood in HS they had the do not use stickers and a private place set up for people to place whichever sticker they wanted on the form. The form even had a place where the unused sticker will go so that no one will see which sticker was taken off the origional form. Since the sticker is a barcode no one around you can read it but the red cross workers will know what to do after the blood has been processed. Of course that would prevent the situation from the Lifetime show.
Posts: 45 | From: Kennesaw, GA | Registered: Sep 2003
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The San Diego Blood Bank does ask the "sex with another man, even one time, since 1977" question. It's always seemed a bit excessive to me. If I had had sex with another man one time in, say, 1979, and had gotten infected with HIV, I would almost certainly have been dead long since....
Asking about more recent contact seems entirely appropriate. Where exactly to draw the line, particularly now that HIV-positive folks are living much longer with the disease? That I'm not sure of. (But anyone who would give blood knowing they had been infected, or even that they were at high risk, would also probably lie about it anyway...)
Incidentally, I do have a friend who has twice gotten false-positive HIV results when attempting to donate. The first time, the allowed him to donate after another test; the second, they put him on the permanently-disqualified list. Unfortunate, but understandable.
These are interesting - I had thought about giving blood because it's one of those things you're almost expected to do (my Mum has given regularly for ages, although colds and dental treatment have prevented her the last couple of times she went) but I see from BBChris' link that I can't at all in the UK. I had spinal surgery in 1993 and must have received blood then so I'm apparently ruled out permanently. The Africa connection would rule me out in the States (lived in Nigeria in the early 80s). So no one wants my blood? Oh well, saves me the effort then, but it is a shame.
posted
It just occurred to me that an acquaintance of mine, who happens to be homosexual, is a regular blood donor, which makes me assume that in Sweden you're welcome to donate your blood as long as nothing suspicious shows up in it. People who have lived in areas with malaria are not allowed, though.
-------------------- Små hönor skall inte lägga stora ägg för då blir de slarviga i ändan Posts: 1334 | From: Sweden | Registered: Feb 2000
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quote:Originally posted by Echinodermata Q. Taft: Incidentally, I do have a friend who has twice gotten false-positive HIV results when attempting to donate. The first time, the allowed him to donate after another test; the second, they put him on the permanently-disqualified list. Unfortunate, but understandable.
I had this happen to me in college. It's not a false positive, but an undetermined reading. I was a virgin, had never gotten blood or done any drugs. I've tested negative in over a dozen subsequent tests. I'm banned from giving blood and donating organs for life. Here's hoping my daughter never needs an organ transplant, as I'm on a list withthe FDA and they wouldn't let me give anything to her.
No one in my family will donate to the Red Cross anymore.
Posts: 1359 | From: Akron, Ohio | Registered: Aug 2005
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quote:this topic reminds me of on "Strong Medicine", where Dana had a blind date and their dinner reservations were delayed, so she got him to donate some blood. And he couldn't say 'no' to that question, which ended her blind date with him. lol.
Way late with this reply, but I saw that episode as well. And that is why such interviews are given in private and she would have never been allowed to listen in as in the show.
Posts: 287 | From: Sacramento, CA | Registered: Sep 2005
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quote:Here's hoping my daughter never needs an organ transplant, as I'm on a list withthe FDA and they wouldn't let me give anything to her.
The FDA would prevent you from donating to strangers. But they can't prevent you from donating to family or friends if you and they want to. But I'm sure any doctor would check you out extra throughly do to this background.
Posts: 287 | From: Sacramento, CA | Registered: Sep 2005
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