There's a national shortage of male blood donors. Blood doesn't have a gender identity, but it does have a sex.
I just heard an interview on my local station in the Midlands, but it's nationwide.
My station called it a 'gender' imbalance, annoyingly.
They're still not sure why fewer males are stepping forward. There was some speculation men aren't hearing the message.
But I'd be interested to hear more on this if anyone knows.
Here's a piece from one day ago re Southwark: www.southwarknews.co.uk/news/shortage-of-male-blood-donors-in-southwark-causes-concern-concern/
'Some transfusions can only use men's blood
'Men’s blood is particularly important because it has higher iron levels.
This means men are less likely to be deferred when putting themselves forward due to low haemoglobin levels.
Men’s blood is also free from the antibodies women can produce during pregnancy – even very short pregnancies the woman may not be aware of.
Some transfusions can only use men's blood
More male blood donors are needed in Southwark to fix a “serious imbalance”, says the NHS.
Throughout 2019, only 38 per cent of new donors in the borough were men, reflecting a national trend of women being more likely to sign up.
Figures showing donor numbers from January 2019 to the end of November showed 516 women signing up – and just 322 men.
Men’s blood is particularly important because it has higher iron levels.
This means men are less likely to be deferred when putting themselves forward due to low haemoglobin levels.
Men’s blood is also free from the antibodies women can produce during pregnancy – even very short pregnancies the woman may not be aware of.
Antibodies are part of the body’s defence system, and make transfusions more difficult.
Because of this, only men’s blood can be used in some specialist transfusions and blood products including complete blood transfusions in newborn babies, and for plasma – used for patients who have had massive blood loss.
The NHS also gets 93 per cent of platelets – usually given for cancer patients to stop internal bleeding – from men.'
There's more, but it's yet another reminder why, despite all the glitter and rainbows in the world, biology is immutable.