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Select the donation type you’d like to make
Yes, but there may be some other eligibility criteria that apply to you.
- Before we get started…
People of all genders are welcome and safe in our blood donor centres.
You’ll always get the same friendly and caring service from our donor centre team members, but they may need to ask some more or different questions.
If you become a donor from 14 July 2025, you can list your gender and sex recorded at birth separately on our donor system when you first sign up. If you signed up before then, simply let us know during your pre-donation interview and we can update them for you.
For gender, you’ll be able to choose from:
- Woman/female
- Man/male
- Non-binary
- I use a different term
- Prefer not to say
For sex recorded at birth, you’ll be able to choose male or female.
Of course, the team will be happy to use your current name (but we will need to record your legal name the first time) and pronouns if you let us know on the day of your donation.
- As a transgender person, is there any kind of sexual activity that will affect my ability to donate blood or plasma?
Yes, there are some sexual activities that may mean you have to wait to donate blood. You can generally donate plasma straight away, regardless of sexual activity.
However, if you’ve had sex with a male or transgender partner, you’ll need to wait 3 months from that contact before you can donate blood. ‘Sex’ means any sexual activities including vaginal, oral or anal sex (but not sex toys).
There’s more information about some other rules that apply to all donors, which you can read about on the link below. You can also read about what we’re doing to change things.
Find out more about sexual activity and blood donation here.
- Can I list my sex recorded at birth and my gender separately?
Yes. If you become a donor from 14 July 2025, you can list your gender and sex recorded at birth separately on our donor system when you first sign up.
If you signed up before then, simply let us know during your pre-donation interview and we can update them for you.
- Why do you need to know my sex recorded at birth?
Your hormones change how donation affects your health.
Us knowing your sex recorded at birth helps us keep you safe when you donate, as well as correctly interpret some blood tests like iron and haemoglobin.
Sex hormones affect your haemoglobin (Hb) levels, so Hb in people receiving hormones for gender affirmation (sometimes referred to as HRT) may be affected. A history of having menstrual cycles affects your iron levels.
So, knowing your full history can change the way we understand some blood tests (like the haemoglobin and ferritin tests, which can be an indicator of iron stores in your blood).
Please let us know if you’re on any medications, including gender affirming hormones which can affect haemoglobin and ferritin.
- Can I give blood if I’m transgender?
Absolutely, but there may be some other eligibility criteria that apply to you.
As with all donors, we need to know a few details for your safety as well as the safety of the patients who receive donated blood and plasma products.
As mentioned above, your hormones change how donation affects your health.
You can generally donate plasma straight away regardless of sexual activity. However, if you’ve had sex with a male or transgender partner, you’ll need to wait 3 months from that contact before you can donate blood. ‘Sex’ means any sexual activities including vaginal, oral or anal sex (but not sex toys).
- Are there different procedures for blood and plasma donation for transgender donors?
You’ll always get the same friendly and caring service from our donor centre team members, but they may need to ask some more or different questions. We make some small adjustments on our end to account for individual differences in all donors. Those differences may be related to your sex recorded at birth, but they also may be changed by hormones for gender affirmation, so make sure you let us know when we ask about medications.
- I’m on gender affirming hormones. Can I give blood or plasma?
Yes, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria and let us know when we ask about what medications you’re taking (as these can affect some of your blood values including your haemoglobin).
- I’ve had gender affirmation surgery. Can I donate blood or plasma?
Yes, as long as you meet the other eligibility criteria and have had enough time to fully recover from surgery. The same rules apply to all surgeries, to keep you healthy and well.
- Can I donate blood or plasma if I’m taking PrEP?
Anyone on PrEP can donate plasma without a wait period. However, you can’t donate blood while you are on PrEP and for 12 months after ceasing the medication. See the sexual activity page for more information.
- Want to know more?
If you have any questions about recorded sex at birth, gender and how they affect you as a donor, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help.
