Page 6 | Male asked if I am pregnant when donating blood

slipperypenguin · 2022-12-13T20:00:42+00:00

I am a GC male. I am a regular blood donor, but today for the first time I was specifically asked by the nurse to confirm if I am / could possibly be pregnant. I laughed as I thought she was joking as I felt it was obvious I am a biological male and therefore could not possibly be pregnant, but she told me they were "inclusive" and had to confirm. This was in Scotland at a regular blood donor clinic. Am I just out of touch with the times or is the world gone man? I can confirmed that I am a male yet am forced to answer this question in order to donate.

Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 22:41

@scratchedbymycat because if pregnant or had multiple pregnancies women can’t donate.

CharityShopChic · 13/12/2022 22:39

I am a regular blood donor in Scotland. I am always asked if I could be pregnant even though I am 50, and it is clearly stated on my notes that I have had a hysterectomy.

NHS Scotland just cannot join the dots. On one hand they are wasting money asking men if they are pregnant. On the other, I am still getting letters 6 years later telling me I need to book a smear on my non-existent cervix.

Original poster

slipperypenguin · 13/12/2022 22:39

HollyDollyChristmas · 13/12/2022 22:37

www.scotblood.co.uk/media/2828/sc59-natf-155-18-dsr-mar-2022-a4-sample.pdf

it’s just a question on the form, you could have been a 60+ woman who went through the menopause ten years ago and you would still have to answer. You’re making something out of nothing.

The form has recently been updated. Previously biological males did not need to answer this question. It has specifically been changed so that biological males now need to also answer it. I don't agree that this is just a form and I feel it is a bigger issue if a narrative silently being pushed onto us thag males can carry children.

OP posts:

Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 22:39

@determinedtomakethiswork There are women identifying as male who are in relationships with males. It’s not unreasonable to assume that they are having sex and therefore could potentially become pregnant. Whether they are happy to continue is a different matter.

scratchedbymycat · 13/12/2022 22:38

Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 21:29

All if you who don’t like the question being asked. Are you all happy for a currently/previously pregnant transman to give blood without any note attached that it is a pregnancy donation and for that blood to be given to your male relative?

How have men been protected from this risk before now?

HollyDollyChristmas · 13/12/2022 22:37

www.scotblood.co.uk/media/2828/sc59-natf-155-18-dsr-mar-2022-a4-sample.pdf

it’s just a question on the form, you could have been a 60+ woman who went through the menopause ten years ago and you would still have to answer. You’re making something out of nothing.

determinedtomakethiswork · 13/12/2022 22:35

I'm just trying to imagine a woman who identifies as a man who is happy to carry a baby and give birth. There's a hell of a lot of cognitive dissonance going on there.

FortunaMajor · 13/12/2022 22:34

In future tell them you haven't had a period for a while so can't be sure.

Original poster

slipperypenguin · 13/12/2022 22:34

ToffeeEl · 13/12/2022 22:32

There are lots of questions medics have to ask and tick despite the information being 'there in the notes' - they need a confirmation

A simple form question isn't attacking anyone here. If someone asked my partner if he was pregnant his answer would be 'no', simply because he is not. If someone asked my friend if she was pregnant the answer would be 'no' also because she's not.

Which is fine - but also is it the norm to miss sections in forms which aren't applicable to you. Similar to how I am able to miss sections in the form about sexual health if I answer certain questions.

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Melroses · 13/12/2022 22:33

The trouble is this ideology is accepted by people who should know better, and then they pass the problem on to the people they are supposed to be in a position of authority over. It is abuse.

Original poster

slipperypenguin · 13/12/2022 22:32

Downtown123 · 13/12/2022 22:28

I would of said yes there’s a chance and asked them for a pregnancy test. Ridiculous

I guess in that situation I would have been refused to donate blood.

I think that's why this is of concern to me also - it feels like this is only going to reduce the number of people who will donate blood because they refuse to answer the question.

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ToffeeEl · 13/12/2022 22:32

There are lots of questions medics have to ask and tick despite the information being 'there in the notes' - they need a confirmation

A simple form question isn't attacking anyone here. If someone asked my partner if he was pregnant his answer would be 'no', simply because he is not. If someone asked my friend if she was pregnant the answer would be 'no' also because she's not.

Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 22:31

@nepeta probably.
But that’s the way it currently is so what can the staff dealing with this situation do but ask the questions?

nocoolnamesleft · 13/12/2022 22:29

Downtown123 · 13/12/2022 22:28

I would of said yes there’s a chance and asked them for a pregnancy test. Ridiculous

Or possibly "I don't know. How would I tell?"

Downtown123 · 13/12/2022 22:28

I would of said yes there’s a chance and asked them for a pregnancy test. Ridiculous

Original poster

slipperypenguin · 13/12/2022 22:28

greenhousegal · 13/12/2022 22:25

Question on the form: What is your biological sex please? Female... that's fine, now are you pregnant or do you think you might be?

Question: What is your biological sex please? Male, that's fine, thank you.

Please note if you are or think you are pregnant an x-ray could affect the foetus. Any blood donation you make if pregnant could be dangerous to biological male recipients. Thank you.

Or along those lines. Surely makes sense to have bio sex recorded, or is that too sensible.

Is the issue that those in this situ do not agree or believe that biological sex exists and therefore it can't be answered? (Not trying to play devils advocate I genuinely don't know?)

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Tirrrrred · 13/12/2022 22:28

@nocoolnamesleft Thanks.

I actually thought it was that as I couldn't think of anything else it could stand for.

I still don't know what it means though.

hotdiggetydog · 13/12/2022 22:27

Valid question. You can define as pregnant.

greenhousegal · 13/12/2022 22:25

Question on the form: What is your biological sex please? Female... that's fine, now are you pregnant or do you think you might be?

Question: What is your biological sex please? Male, that's fine, thank you.

Please note if you are or think you are pregnant an x-ray could affect the foetus. Any blood donation you make if pregnant could be dangerous to biological male recipients. Thank you.

Or along those lines. Surely makes sense to have bio sex recorded, or is that too sensible.

Wildlynx · 13/12/2022 22:25

I'm pretty certain the iron levels for blood donation are different for male/female so it's ridiculous they can tell that but not of you have the capacity to be pregnant or not 😫

nocoolnamesleft · 13/12/2022 22:25

Tirrrrred · 13/12/2022 22:23

What is GC?

GC = gender critical. Basically anyone that recognises that human biology matters when it comes to sex.

nepeta · 13/12/2022 22:25

Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 22:16

@TheCallOfTheMild ive already said I was trying to differentiate between biological sex and documented sex.
children are not able to change the sex documented on their medical record so I don’t need to ask 10year old boys because I can be certain that their sex is correct. Adults can change the sex on their medical records, receive a new nhs number so it’s not so clear cut

And because of this, every single person must be asked certain extra questions? Wouldn't it make more sense to correct the problem of some individuals not giving their biological sex in their records? After all, the first-mentioned group is huge, the second-mentioned group is tiny.

Tirrrrred · 13/12/2022 22:23

What is GC?

Original poster

slipperypenguin · 13/12/2022 22:16

ErrolTheDragon · 13/12/2022 21:59

It is indicated on the records though

Unfortunately, the 'sex' recorded on the medical records of gender reassigned individuals is liable to be inaccurate. Which is potentially dangerous to them, and in the case of blood donations to others.

Got it, thanks for clarifying

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Wishiwasatailor · 13/12/2022 22:16

@TheCallOfTheMild ive already said I was trying to differentiate between biological sex and documented sex.
children are not able to change the sex documented on their medical record so I don’t need to ask 10year old boys because I can be certain that their sex is correct. Adults can change the sex on their medical records, receive a new nhs number so it’s not so clear cut