The French Association of Hemophiliacs (AFH) and Aides are concerned about the abolition of the 4-month period of sexual abstinence imposed on homosexual men wishing to donate blood.
- Deeming it discriminatory, MPs voted to abolish the abstinence period imposed on homosexuals wishing to donate blood
- Deeming it discriminatory, the deputies voted to abolish the period of abstinence imposed on homosexuals wishing to donate their blood
- The French Association of Hemophiliacs (AFH) and Aides recall that this measure was intended above all to protect recipients
- Scientific data shows that the prevalence of AIDS is 200 times higher among homosexual men
Since July 2016, gay men had to observe a period of sexual abstinence of 4 months (instead of 12) before being able to donate blood. On Wednesday, MPs finally voted to scrap the deadline, saying “the donor selection criteria cannot be based on the sex of the partner(s) with whom he would have had sexual relations”. However, this amendment, demanded for a long time by LGBT associations, finally arouses concern of the French Association of Hemophiliacs (AFH) and Aides, who recall that this measure was intended above all to protect recipients, reports Le Figaro.
Gay men more at risk
Indeed, a study of the Institute for Public Health Surveillance (InVS), published in The Lancet in 2010 showed that the prevalence of AIDS was 200 times higher among homosexual men than among heterosexual men. “Forty percent of people who discover their HIV infection each year in France are homosexual menexplain to Figaro Marc Dixneuf, Managing Director of Aides. What surprises us is that this epidemiological dimension of HIV is often absent from discussions among people who talk about discrimination.”
However, remember Nicolas Giraud, president of the French Association of Hemophiliacs (AFH), the increased risk does not only concern homosexual men, but also people who have stayed in England between 1980 and 1990, who have received a blood transfusion or who weigh a certain weight. . “This is to guarantee the maximum safety of the recipients, in extremely fragile situations”, that the 4-month deadline had been imposed. Moreover, it was not a question of discriminating against homosexual men, but rather of protecting the recipients. The nuance is important.
“This safety is non-negotiable, whether for our community of hemophiliacs or for a woman who will receive a blood transfusion after a hemorrhage. post partum, and who would come out with an illness!”, he argues. Of course, there is a difference between a multi-partner heterosexual and “a homosexual who has little or no sexual relations, but for the dynamics of an epidemic, we do not reason at the individual level.”
Rules for donating blood
In practice, to donate blood, you must be between 18 and 70 years old, weigh more than 50 kg and be recognized as fit during the interview preceding the donation. After age 60, the first donation is subject to the assessment of an EFS doctor. More specifically, men can donate blood up to 6 times a year and women up to 4 times, but a minimum of 8 weeks must be respected between two donations. Contraindications linked to acts of care, a state of health, personal or sexual practices, stays abroad or the taking of certain medications and antibiotics are listed on the EFS website.
If a volunteer has a history of malaria, has undergone surgery in the last 4 months, carries a blood infection (HIV, viral hepatitis, etc.) has just had a tattoo, has traveled to an area where tropical illnesses in the past 4 months, or had sex for money or drugs in the past 12 months, he will not be able to donate blood. This is to ensure the safety of donors and recipients.
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