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Can I Donate Blood If I Have Chlamydia

Donating Blood With Other Stds

HOW I GOT CHLAMYDIA

Hospitals and emergency treatment facilities across the United States rely on blood donations to save lives every day. However, using infected blood can cause more harm than good. Thats why, before you can donate blood, you have to undergo screening for transmissible diseases.

The screening typically involves filling out a survey that asks questions about your health. Should you provide incorrect or false information, your donated blood will still undergo screening before medical facilities use it.

What STDS do they check for when you donate blood?

CDC guidelines recommend checking donated blood for these STDs:

Am I At Risk For Chlamydia

Anyone who has sex can get chlamydia through unprotected vaginal, anal, or oral sex. However, sexually active young people are at a higher risk of getting chlamydia. This is due to behaviors and biological factors common among young people. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are also at risk since chlamydia can spread through oral and anal sex.

Have an honest and open talk with your health care provider. Ask whether you should be tested for chlamydia or other STDs. If you are a sexually active woman younger than 25 years, you should get a test for chlamydia every year. If you are an older woman with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has an STD, you should get a test for chlamydia every year. Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men as well as pregnant women should also get tested for chlamydia.

You Are Taking Certain Medications Or Antibiotics

What medications disqualify you from donating blood? Frankly, because there are so many medications this question is one of the more complex ones to answer regarding giving blood restrictions and rules. As a general rule, most OTC medications will not disqualify you from giving blood. If you take prescription medications, look at the ARCs list of medications to see if your medication may defer your donation.

The following are the most frequently discussed medications when it come to giving blood restriction:

  • Aspirin: If you take Aspirin or medications containing Aspirin, you will likely be allowed to donate whole blood. If you wish to donate only platelets, you will need to wait the space of two full days between the last time you took a pill and the day you donate blood.
  • Blood thinners: Since blood thinners affect the ability of your blood to clot, individuals taking certain types of blood thinners will not be allowed to donate.
  • Birth control pills:Women taken birth control are eligible to donate blood.
  • Insulin: Diabetics using insulin are eligible to donate blood so long as their diabetes is well under control.

For most antibiotics, wait until you have completed the full course of antibiotics if you are taking oral medication, and wait until 10 days after the last injection if youre receiving antibiotics by injection.

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Organ Or Tissue Transplant

If you have received human tissues, such as bone , ligaments, tendons, skin and corneas, you may be allowed to donate, depending on the reason for the procedure.

If you received any of the following types of transplants you will not be able to donate:

  • Human organs such as heart, lung, liver or kidney

You Got A Tattoo Or Piercing

Can I Donate Blood If I Have Tattoos On My Skin

These giving blood restrictions pop up on a lot of lists as being some of the more surprising reasons you might not be able to give blood. The concern behind tattoos, piercings, and even intravenous drug use, is that the instruments and needles used in these practices may spread hepatitis.

For tattoos, you wont be asked to defer your blood donation so long as you live in a state that regulates its tattoo facilities. If you dont live in a state that regulates these facilities then you should wait 3 months before donating blood.

For piercings, you wont be asked to defer your blood donation so long as the piercing was conducted using single-use equipment. If the piercing was made using reusable equipment then you will be asked to wait 3 months before donating.

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Bone Marrow Donation Guidelines

These bone marrow donation guidelines provide an overview of many medical conditions. They do not include every medical situation that may prevent you from donating. Its important to note that marrow donation guidelines are not the same as blood donation guidelines.

If you have questions about these guidelines or a medical condition not listed here, please call 1 MARROW-2.

Mole Removal And Wound Suture

Excision of a mole or nevus and wound suture prevent blood donation for a week. If a mole has been removed because of its suspicious nature, the results of the biopsy must be known before donating blood.

Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .

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If I Was Deferred Once Before Am I Still Ineligible To Donate

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Your blood donor center will inform you if you are permanently deferred or temporarily deferred. The deferral time depends upon the reason for deferral. Prior to each donation, you will be given a mini-physical and medical interview. At that time, it will be determined if you are eligible to donate blood on that day.

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What If Im Having An Outbreak

If youre feeling especially ill, either because of herpes symptoms or another illness, its best to wait.

The Australian Red Cross guidelines say not to donate blood during an active herpes outbreak. Their website advises to wait until any sores are gone. The area of infection must be clean and dry.

The site also says if youve come into sexual contact with someone who has active genital herpes, to wait two weeks before donating blood.

Where Can You Donate Blood

The American Red Cross is the largest blood donation organization of its kind in the country, and have blood drives all the time. Here’s how to find one near you.

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Can I Donate If I Have A Cold

No, if you are sneezing and coughing or very congested you should not attend. It is important that you do not have any infection at the time of donating. If you are unsure it is best not to give blood.

Can I donate if I feel ill or have a cold sore?

If you are feeling under the weather its best that you wait until you feel better before you give blood. Use our health & eligibility section to find out more.

Can I donate blood if I am taking antibiotics or have an infection?

If you have had coronavirus symptoms, please read our full coronavirus guidance for rules on attending a session before making an appointment to donate.

You must be completely healed or recovered from any infection for at least 14 days before you give blood. If you are taking antibiotics you may need to wait a period of time after your last tablet. Please follow our advice about donating after an infection. Please also see our advice about donating after antibiotics.

Can I donate if I am pregnant, or have recently been pregnant?

During your pregnancy, you are not able to give blood. If you had a blood transfusion during your pregnancy or at delivery then you will not be able to become a blood donor. Please follow our advice about giving blood during and after pregnancy.

Can I give blood if I am receiving medical treatment or taking medication?

Can I give blood if I have been to the dentist or received dental treatment?

Can I give blood if I have been travelling outside the UK?

How Can I Reduce My Risk Of Getting Chlamydia

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The only way to avoid STDs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex.

If you are sexually active, you can do the following things to lower your chances of getting chlamydia:

  • Be in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and has negative STD test results
  • Use latex condoms the right way every time you have sex.

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Who Is At Risk For Chlamydia

This STD is particularly common in young people. According to a CDC report, chlamydia prevalence among sexually active persons aged 14-24 years is nearly three times the prevalence among those aged 25-39 years. It is more prevalent among young women because at that age the cervix is still developing and is much more susceptible to the bacteria. Additionally, the vagina and cervix provide more surface area than the penis, which makes it easier for women to contract the bacteria.

Whether chlamydia symptoms are present or not, untreated chlamydia can travel to the upper genital tract and cause serious health problems. In women, chlamydia can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and cause permanent damage leading to infertility or potentially fatal ectopic pregnancy. In men, untreated cases can lead to epididymitis, which can, but very rarely does, cause sterility.

Can You Donate Blood If You Have A Tattoo

Yes, but this is tricky, so be sure to get it right before you go. Due to hepatitis-related concerns, in the United States you cannot donate blood within 12 months of getting a tattoo if your state does not regulate tattoo facilities. Tattoos done in all other states — so long as they were applied in licensed establishments using sterile needles and ink that was not reused — are fine. If you have questions, always ask the folks taking your information when you give blood.

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If You Have Genital Herpes Can You Donate Blood

Before discussing whether you can donate blood when you have herpes, we need to answer the question: Can herpes be transmitted through blood donation?

Previously, blood collection facilities allowed herpes carriers to donate blood as long as they did not have an active infection. Thats because many believed that herpes could spread only during intercourse or via direct skin-to-skin contact.

However,recent studies suggest that herpes may spread via blood transfusions, regardless of whether the infected has an active infection. Since there isnt enough evidence to support this theory, many facilities still accept blood from herpes carriers.

If You Have Concerns After You Have Donated

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If after giving blood, if you become aware of or remember any information about your health that could affect whether we should transfuse your blood, please call the Blood Donor Room at or email .

As of June 1, 2000, Public Health Law requires that a confirmed positive HIV test be confidentially reported to the New York State Department of Health.

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Check You Are Able To Give Blood

Use this quick list to check you can give.

You can also read some of the most common eligibility questions we receive from blood donors.

If you have a health condition, have travelled out of the country recently, or if you answer “yes” to any question on your Donor Health Check questionnaire, please call 0300 123 23 23 or check the health & eligibility or travel section for further advice about whether this affects you donating blood.

The common reasons donors should check if they can give blood are:

  • if you are receiving medical or hospital treatment
  • if you are taking medication
  • after travelling outside of the UK
  • after having a tattoo or piercing
  • during and after pregnancy
  • if you have cancer
  • after receiving blood, blood products or organs

If you have any questions then contact us by completing a web form or call us on 0300 123 23 23.

You Were Recently Vaccinated

If you have recently received a vaccination or immunization, you may be required to wait for a period of time before being eligible to donate blood. The major exceptions are the Smallpox vaccination andliving in close proximity of someone who receives the Smallpox vaccination. It is requested that you wait 8 weeks after receiving a Smallpox vaccine or after living in close proximity to someone who received the Smallpox vaccine before donating blood. This waiting period should be extended if you experience complications.

COVID-19 vaccination restrictions are, at the time of writing, still subject to change. However, at the present moment, the ACR states that blood donations are Acceptable if you were vaccinated with an Inactivated or RNA based COVID-19 vaccine manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer providing you are symptom-free and fever-free. If you received a different type of COVID-19 vaccine or are unsure what type of vaccine you received, you may be subject to a waiting period before you are eligible to donate blood.

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Intravenous Drugs And Use Of Pharmaceutical Products Without A Doctor’s Prescription

The use of intravenous drugs, even just once, means you may not donate blood.

The use of intravenous pharmaceutical products without a doctor’s prescription, even just once, prevents you from donating blood.

If your sex partner has used intravenous drugs or other intravenous pharmaceutical products without doctors prescription, please call our information number in order to check your eligibility to donate blood.

Drug use prevents blood donation. An isolated case of trying drugs or casual use of drugs other than intravenous drugs causes a temporary, two week long obstacle to blood donation.

Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on +358 800 0 5801 .

Your Iron Levels Are Too Low

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Hemoglobin, a protein found in your red blood cells plays an essential role in transporting oxygen to your bodys organs and tissues and back to your lungs. Hemoglobin also contains much of your bodys iron. So when someone says that your iron levels are too low, that is actually a misleading way of stating that your hemoglobin levels are too low for you to safely donate blood.

Hemoglobin levels are measured in grams per deciliter. In their eligibility requirements list The American Red Cross states that:

In order to donate blood, a woman must have a hemoglobin level of at least 12.5 g/dL, and a man must have a hemoglobin level of at least 13.0 g/dL. For all donors, the hemoglobin level can be no greater than 20 g/dL.

If youve had trouble giving blood in the past due to low iron/hemoglobin levels, you can combat these deficiencies by eating iron-rich foods, especially meat and animal products . If you are vegetarian, breads and pastas, beans, peanuts, lentils, tofu, and eggs are also good sources of iron, although your body cannot absorb the iron they contain as easily.

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Can You Donate Blood If You Have Herpes Or Other Stis

Let’s be clear, if you have HIV or hepatitis — or have been exposed to those diseases — you cannot donate blood. Donors who have contracted syphilis or gonorrhea should wait at least 12 months before making a blood donation. Donors with chlamydia, HPV , or genital or oral herpes can donate blood, as long as they are feeling healthy and nothing else restricts them.

Can You Donate Blood If You Have Herpes Risks And Considerations

Most people think of herpes as an STD , but you dont need to have sex to contract this virus. You can contract herpes through skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus, especially if you touch a herpes sore. Herpes can also spread via utensils, lip balms, and other items that have touched the sores of an infected person.

Herpes is so common that over half of the U.S. population carries the virus, andone out of six of those carriers has genital herpes. The virus can stay in the human body for life, but it is not life-threatening. However, it can be frustrating and embarrassing, especially when it causes visible sores around the mouth or genitals.

Can you donate blood if you have herpes?

The right answer to this question depends on various factors, such as if you recently had intercourse with a genital herpes carrier or if you have visible herpes symptoms. Before delving more deeply into whether you can donate blood if you have herpes, lets look at the symptoms and types of herpes.

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What You Should Know Before Donating Blood

Besides saving the lives of others, donating blood can be emotionally and physically beneficial. According to theMental Health Foundation, donating blood can:

  • Alleviate stress
  • Boost your emotional well-being
  • Prevent cardiovascular disease by reducing harmful iron deposits

Also, when you go to donate blood, you get a free health checkup. The checkup will identify whether you are healthy enough to give blood by checking your:

  • Pulse
  • Blood pressure
  • Hemoglobin levels

Failing the screening could mean that you have a health issue that you were unaware of, and you can seek help before it gets worse.

Donating blood is safe as long as you are a healthy adult. Since the medical personnel use sterile equipment for each donor, you dont have to worry about picking up diseases from other donors. However, depending on your physiology and other factors, you may briefly experience these side effects after giving blood:

  • Lightheadedness
  • Slight bruising, swelling, or bleeding where the needle entered your arm
  • Arm pain, numbness, or tingling

If you experience physical weakness after donating blood, it should pass after a while. You can speed up your recovery by resting with your feet up and drink lots of water, herbal tea, or broth.

If you drink or smoke, avoid doing either at least 12 hours before donating blood. Lastly, wear a sleeveless or short-sleeved shirt so that your blood-giving arm will be easily accessible.

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