Eligibility FAQs

• If I’ve been deferred for MSM contact, when will I be able to donate blood?

  Gay and bisexual men are eligible to donate three months after their last sexual encounter with another man.

• I was told in the past that I was permanently deferred from donating blood for MSM contact. Does this update affect that?

  Yes. If your permanent deferral was because of MSM contact, you may be eligible to donate now. Visit our Blood Donation FAQ page to learn more.

• I’m in a monogamous MSM relationship; can I donate blood?

  Unfortunately, no. The FDA requires all men, regardless of their relationship status, to wait three months from their last sexual encounter with another man before donating.

• I’m a man who has sex with men. Do I really have to abstain from sex for three months before I can give blood?

  Yes. This is an FDA regulation and we are required by law to abide by it.

• I always practice safe sex. Can’t you make an exception?

  Unfortunately, no. We are required to abide by FDA regulations.

• I’m a gay or bisexual man who hasn’t had sex with another man in more than three months. Can I donate?

  If it has been more than 3 months since your last sexual encounter with another man, you may be eligible to donate blood. Visit our Blood Donation FAQ page to confirm your eligibility.

• I’m a trans man who has previously been able to donate because I was assigned female at birth. However, I have had sex with another man. Can I donate?

  No. People who identify as male and have sex with another man will be deferred from donating for three months under the new FDA MSM policy.

• I’m a trans woman who has not previously been able to donate because I was assigned male at birth, and I had sex with a man. Can I donate?

  Yes. People who identify as female and have sex with a man are not deferred under the MSM policy. Visit our Blood Donation FAQ page to confirm your eligibility.

• I had gender-affirmation surgery. Can I donate?

  Donor eligibility criteria for transgender donors aren’t affected by whether or not you’ve had any kind of gender-affirmation surgery.

• I’m undergoing hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Am I eligible?

  There is no deferral for HRT that has been prescribed to you by a physician. However, if you are taking acne medication to treat side effects of testosterone HRT, you may be deferred. Check the medication deferral list  to confirm your eligibility.

• Don’t you test donated blood for diseases?

  Yes. Every donated unit of blood, platelets and plasma undergoes rigorous testing for a number of infectious diseases, including HIV, hepatitis and more. If a unit of blood passes these tests, it is considered safe for patients.

• I’m taking a medication to prevent HIV infection. Am I eligible to donate?

  No. If you’re currently taking any medication to prevent HIV infection, or have taken any in the past three months, you are deferred from donating. These medications include PrEP, PEP, TRUVADA and DESCOVY. Check the medication deferral list  for additional information about medications.

• I’m not eligible to donate blood. What can I do to help?

  There are lots of ways to get involved in Versiti’s lifesaving mission, including:

  • Hosting a blood drive in your community
  • Joining the Be The Match bone marrow donor registry
  • Joining the organ and tissue donor registry
  • Volunteering your time
  • Making a financial gift toward lifesaving research
  • Becoming a community partner
• I think this policy is discriminatory and unfair. Can’t the FDA change it?

  According to their website, “The FDA will closely monitor the effects of the current changes over the next few years in order to help ensure that blood safety is maintained. At the same time, the FDA will continue to work in this area and review its donor deferral policies to ensure they reflect the most up-to-date scientific knowledge. This process must be data-driven, so the timeframe for future changes is not something that can be predicted.”

  Versiti’s research has been used to support modifying the MSM donor policy to make blood donation more accessible. However, the FDA regulates blood donation requirements at the federal level.

  To help support changing these laws, please contact your state’s elected representatives.