I've become confused on the subject of blood donations. I visited a local company called Biolife that pays money for plasma, which in a college town is a great way to make pocket change. But upon disclosing my medications and their use they refused to take my plasma as the FDA has no way to check my 'risk factor'. One of the nurses also pulled me aside and told me that taking the plasma could disrupt the amount of hormones in my body, and could prove to be problematic.

However I have read and heard of other TS men and women being able to donate blood and otherwise without any trouble. Did I goof and disclose information not needed? Or is their a way to show no adverse reaction would occur from donating?

I never consider hormones "medications", so I don't disclose that when I donate blood. And as for it disrupting your hormone balance, I doubt it. It doesn't happen to cisgendered people, so why would it happen to us?

As far as risk factors, they're in a tizzy because they don't know whether to ask you the male or the female questions, none of which actually address risk anyway. I answer the male questions, but if I knew I was at risk for any reason, like unprotected sex, sharing needles, or anything, then I wouldn't donate.

It pisses me off that their so-called risk reduction bears little to no relation to what they are claiming to accomplish.

Dennis

I found out years ago that I am disqualified from donating blood due to having had sex with members of the so-called same sex. Which is funny since by that time I had had sex with members of my same sex also.
Rashelle