Sexual relations and plasma donation

You cannot give plasma if you have had anal sex with a new partner or with several partners in the last three months.

You can give plasma if:

You have been in a monogamous relationship for more than three months

You have one or more new partners and have not had anal sex in the past three months

Sexual relations can lead to the spread of sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). Despite the efficacy of screening tests, there is a window period when a recently infected person may feel well and test negative for HIV and hepatitis B and C, but they can still spread these viruses to the recipient of a blood product they donated.

Other sexual relations criteria

Consult them to validate your eligibility.

If you have been victim of a sexual assault, you will be able to donate plasma three months after the event.

Sexual assault (with or without a condom) is a risk factor for the spread of STBBIs, whether or not anal sexual contact occurred. Due to the risks associated with the window period, sexual assault victims must wait three months to give plasma.

If you have had anal sex with a new partner or several partners, you can give plasma three months after the last time you had anal sex.
If you have:
- Taken money or drugs in exchange for sex
- Had sex with someone who took money or drugs in exchange for sex
- Had sex with someone who has used injection drugs
- Had sex with someone who has HIV, HTLV-1/2 or hepatitis C
  - You can give plasma 12 months after the last time you had sex in this situation.

Donation ineligibility periods due to sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections vary.

If you have:

Chlamydia: You can give plasma 7 days after you complete your antibiotic treatment.
Genital warts (human papillomavirus – HPV): You can give plasma.
Gonorrhea: You can give plasma 12 months after the end of your treatment.
Hepatitis B or C: You cannot give plasma (permanent ineligibility).
Cold sores: You can give plasma.
Genital herpes: You can give plasma once the sores are fully healed.
HTLV-1/2: You cannot give plasma (permanent ineligibility).
Syphilis: You can give plasma after you’ve finished your course of antibiotics, made a full recovery and are no longer under medical supervision.
HIV: You cannot give plasma (permanent ineligibility).

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) are medical treatments used to prevent HIV. People undergoing these treatments may have low enough levels of HIV in their blood that their viral load is undetectable, which poses a risk of transmission through transfusion.

If you are taking this type of treatment, you can give plasma four months after you take your last tablets or two years after your last injection, as applicable.

Frequently asked questions

The expression “sexual relations” refers to the following acts with or without a condom or other means of protection: vaginal penetration (contact of a penis with a vagina), oral sex (contact of the mouth or tongue with the vagina, penis or anus), and anal penetration (contact of the penis with the anus).

The expression “new partner” means someone you have not had sex with before, or someone you had sex with in the past and have had sex with again.

Anal intercourse presents a higher risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections and blood infections. This risk is a little higher in anal intercourse than it is in oral and vaginal intercourse.

PrEP is a highly effective medical treatment used to prevent HIV transmission through sexual contact. When someone is on PrEP or PEP treatment, however, a small viral load of HIV may not be detected, possibly presenting a risk of transmission through transfusion.

Not necessarily if the relationship is exclusive, for the person is not a new partner. If it had been proven that the partner was not exclusive during the three-month period (for example, because of a temporary break-up), that partner would be considered a new partner.

Anyone who said they had more than one sexual partner in the last three months is included in the question “Have you had more than one sexual partner in the last three months?” and must also answer the subsidiary question regarding anal intercourse.

We are aware that some people may have sexual intercourse with a number of partners who are not new. According to current available data, people who have more than one sexual partner and have anal intercourse are more at risk of acquiring blood-transmitted infections.

*Polyamory is the practice of partners having romantic relationships with more than one person at a time. Each partner knows about the other person and accepts them.