Blood, Sperm, and Bone Marrow Donations

The Big Question

In 1985, when AIDS was perceived as a "gay plague," the Food and Drug Administration enacted a requirement that men who had sexual relations with a male partner after 1977 would not be allowed to donate blood or bone marrow. The policy was later revised so that gay and bisexual men who had been celibate for five years would be allowed to donate blood, a policy that is still in place to this day. In 2004, the policy was extended to cover anonymous sperm donors as well, though gay and bisexual men may still make directed sperm donations.

Gay Blood Donors and the AIDS Scare

The original policy was based on a concern that HIV seemed especially prevalent among gay men. Now, in 2006, there are several factors that render this policy suspect:

1. HIV has spread into the heterosexual population, and is now the leading cause of death for all men aged 25 to 44, and the fourth-leading cause of death for women in that age group. It is also the number one cause of death for African-American women aged 25-44, the fastest-growing HIV demographic. If the testing system is not safe enough to weed out HIV in blood donated by gay men, then it isn't safe enough to weed out HIV in blood donated by heterosexuals, either.
2. The restriction is based on the honor system; closeted gay men, who are less likely to practice safe sex than openly gay men, can donate to their hearts' content as long as they're willing to keep their love lives secret.
3. HIV testing procedures have improved dramatically since 1985. The FDA has certified that approved laboratory HIV tests have an 100% chance of detecting HIV infection if performed after an initial three-month incubation period. (Blood can be safely stored for up to ten years.)
4. The restriction does not ask whether the sexual behavior is high-risk. A heterosexual who has had unprotected intercourse with many different partners may donate without restriction; a monogamous gay man who practices safe sex is ineligible. If any sexual behavior based screening takes place, the more sensible option would be to base screening on high-risk sexual behavior, and not strictly on sexual orientation.
5. The American Red Cross, the American Association of Blood Banks, and America's Blood Centers have all stated that the anti-gay screening policy is ineffective and should be discontinued.

The FDA is currently reexamining its policies on gay tissue donors, and is expected to render a decision soon.