ByCan Gay Men Donate Plasma?
Plasma donation is vital for many medical treatments. Plasma is used to treat individuals with severe trauma, and cancer in children and adults, among other things. Not only do plasma donors help others, but they can also get paid.
Historically, have been excluded from donating blood. Thanks to efforts by LGBTQ+ advocates, the FDA revised its rules in 2020, allowing gay men to donate blood and plasma. However, gay men still face stricter eligibility requirements when it comes to plasma donation. DoNotPay can help navigate those requirements, and find the right plasma donation center for you.
What Is Plasma Donation?
Plasma donation takes a bit more time than regular blood donation because it is more complicated. Blood donors are hooked up to a bag, and blood flows from their vein until it is filled. Once the bag is full, the donation is complete.
On the other hand, plasma donation involves various steps, according to Grifols.
- Health screening. Every time you donate, a medical professional will check your vital signs
- Blood sample. A finger prick will tell the doctors and nurses if you have the appropriate protein and hematocrit levels for donation. Again, this will probably be done every time you donate.
- A technician will bring you to the donation area and prepare you for donation. Just like with donating blood, the technician will sterilize your arm.
- The donation process is called plasmapheresis. A technician will insert a needle in your vein that feeds blood to the machine. The machine then separates out plasma from blood, and returns the blood to your body.
Since plasma donation is more complicated than a regular blood donation, plasma donors are often paid. Some donors can make up to $1,000 a month. To maximize compensation, you'll need to choose the right donation center.
Can Gay Men Donate Plasma?
Thanks to new FDA regulations released in 2020, gay men can donate plasma. According to Versiti, there are restrictions:
- Gay men must abstain from sex with another man for three months prior to donating plasma
- Even if a gay man is in a long-term, monogamous relationship with another man, he still must abstain from sex with that man for three months prior to donation
- Men who practice safe sex are not exempt from the three-month waiting period
- Trans men who have sex with other men are also required to wait three months from their last sexual encounter before donating plasma, even if they were assigned female at birth
- Trans women who have sex with men but were assigned male at birth are allowed to donate plasma without a waiting period
Navigating the new regulations on plasma donation for gay men can be complicated. That's on top of other eligibility requirements, like age health status. DoNotPay can help straighten out eligibility, plus find a high-paying center near you.
Things to Keep in Mind Before Plasma Donation
Donating plasma can be rewarding, both monetarily and emotionally. But there are a lot of steps to donation, and some things to keep in mind before donating.
| Before donation | Like blood donation, plasma donation can affect your body. Certain foods will make donations more difficult.
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| After donation | After donation, you'll need to take care. Plasma donation can be strenuous. Stay hydrated before and after donation. Don't smoke tobacco an hour before or after donation.
Eat a meal after donation, within 2 hours if possible. Take time to rest for 24 hours after donating plasma. |
Additional Considerations for Gay Men Donating Plasma
Even though gay men are allowed to donate plasma, there are additional considerations. Gay men must abstain from sex with other men for three months before donation. That means if you plan to donate more than once, you'll need to abstain each time.
Some plasma donation centers allow one donation a month. For gay men who have sex with men, that means they'll need to abstain consistently to donate monthly. Advocates for the LGBTQ+ community are working hard to revise this requirement, which many see as unfair and unnecessary.
DoNotPay can help straighten out eligibility requirements and get you donating as soon as possible.
How to Donate Plasma With DoNotPay
You can use DoNotPay to become a plasma donor. Here’s how:
- Search "plasma donations" on DoNotPay and find the nearest donation clinic through our clinical trials product.
- Select the "Contact Now" button to learn more about eligibility criteria, contact the clinic with questions, or sign up for first-time donor bonuses.
- Verify your information and submit your inquiry! DoNotPay will contact the clinic on your behalf and make sure your questions get answered.
isn't an easy process for anyone. DoNotPay can help you find out exactly who can and cannot donate plasma. The process is fast, easy, and effective!