Male asked if I am pregnant when donating blood

[slipperypenguin]

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.

How have men been protected from this risk before now?

@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.

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.

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.

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

@slipperypenguin Due to health issues she isn't able to become pregnant, their answers will always be the same 'no'

Id like to think that questions that can impact my health or the health of others are being asked of me, all tick lists are tedious - tell you what I don't find them.. offensive

If biological males haven't been asked this question before, how have biological males been protected before now? Blood donations aren't a new phenomenon.

I have had three pregnancies/babies and can donate. They are only interested in women who are currently pregnant - AFAIK it's no donating when pregnant and for 12 months after.

@scratchedbymycat with the rise of trans identity I assume they are concerned that it might be missed going forward

Interestingly I work with parents who arent very good parents

I have worked with a number of those who want and promote and enable their children to have something, be something that perhaps they're not. Including 'trans'. During discussions about other medical issues for those children a lot of mistaken medical confusion comes about because parents will sometimes fill out forms using the wrong sex (which they call gender) and use pronouns for the opposite sex. This leads to other professionals who are taught to validate this (because the child often believes they are 'trans') and also using he when its a girl for example.

I remember one medical professional getting really shirty with us because of the use of a pronoun and it not being clear of the sex of the child and I thought 'quite right', our own systems had the wrong sex (which is called gender incorrectly on our systems).

You darent say anything though.

But my point is, yes you have no idea if that 10 year old in front you that mum keeps calling he, is actually a boy or not

I've just asked my DH if he has ever been asked if he is pregnant before donating blood. Answer: Never . So, if they haven't asked him, how have the health professionals taking his blood been certain that he is not a potential risk to other men by possibly being pregnant?

Wishiwasatailor · Today 20:21
The thing is when working with adults their sex on the medical records can be different to what was assigned at birth so I probably will start asking because who has the time in a&e to start making judgements on if they are male or male presenting. It’ll be done in the same breezy way I ask primary school aged girls and their families if they could be pregnant

Wishi I saw that you said you work in paeds.

May I ask why on earth you are using the phrase sex ‘assigned at birth’? That is a misuse of language given what is suggested by the meaning of ‘to assign’.

Also how can the ‘sex’ on their medical records be different from the sex they were born? Their sex can’t change, only their sense of their gender can.

It seems confusing to me that you are being so imprecise as I take it you are a scientist. If this all sounds rude, I am sorry but I just cannot understand it.

But trans people have always existed, haven't they? I still don't understand why it's suddenly an issue now.

@CharityShopChic i thought there was an increased but still rare risk of transfusion related lung injury due to antibodies which increase with multiple pregnancies so it’s documented with the donation. You can’t give whilst pregnant or 6 months after

Surely easier they ask everyone same questions. Answer no, donate the blood and get on with your day!

@scratchedbymycat i mean this is happening in Scotland so that’s probably why he hasn’t been asked. Yes trans people have always existed but only recently have they been able to change the sex on their medical records so it’s significantly harder to identify biological sex

The problem is that people go along with this stuff, either because they're in organisations or bodies that promote it, and cant be seen to challenge it or question it because if you do you're a bigot,,,, or people buy into the happy clappy messages, thinking its all fun and funny, campy and sparkly to be 'inclusive' and different that they just go along with it

Or they're so shocked they go along with it. Most people dont really think about things.

Whilst it is comical when asked when giving blood, it causes serious problems when this ideology seeps into other areas as the NHS will wilfully deny medical fact and allow for misdiagnosis for sex based diseases and conditions.

Analysis and modelling of data goes out of the window. It is dangerous.

Natal sex needs to be recorded, if someone is trans that has to be recorded too (but not at the expense of the former). Trans people will face unique medical issues (most are currently unknown because activists block the studies), but for instance high levels of testosterone on an XX body etc.

Well I was taught if a person was born with a vagina then they are female (girl/woman) and if born with a penis and testicles they are male (boy/man) I will not be brainwashed by this woke trans fluid non binary stuff that is being inflicted on us now, if a person truly feels that they have been born into the wrong body then I fully accept them in seeking treatment and or surgery to transform them into who they feel they are. I will not accept men who are having a 'lady' day to think it's reasonable to use female toilets or changing rooms, sorry if that offends, but it's how I feel.

If we are told by activists that men can get pregnant, how would men know if they were pregnant or not? Activists have said that women have penises and everyone knows that women can get pregnant, so how would a man know?

@ScrollingLeaves of course you may ask. I was trying to differentiate between biological sex and sex documented on medical records. I used assigned because as you are aware I work in paeds where I come into contact with many who use this terminology. I agree that simply stating biological rather than assigned is more accurate however I’m sure you appreciate that I have to modify language in certain circumstances.

Im not sure if you are aware but adults can apply to have their sex changed on their medical records, they are then given a new nhs number so if you look them up you would not know their sex was not their biological sex without a bit of digging.
(this was not my personal doing it’s just the system that I am working under)

But what’s the point in refusing to answer?
The person who ends up needing your blood didn’t write the questions, and surely you’re donating blood because you’re a good person and want to potentially save a life/ lives.

I think people need to get over themselves and just answer the questions, don’t be so bothered by it, it’s not harming you to tick another box. Refusing to answer and walking out isn’t going to save any lives. And for the sake of what?

Or... just answering a yes/no question and going about your own business

@Wishiwasatailor Very interesting point about trans people being given new NHS numbers and records. Their medical history is almost unknown. This is another case where trans activism harms trans people. I'm hearing too many cases of where dogma in the medical industry actually leads to harm of trans people.

Just wanted to say you’re saying everything I think too, but articulating it far better than I could.
Thanks for propping up this thread with the opposing view 😁 good job x