Is it possible to donate blood during menstruation: useful tips

The most common diagnostic procedure is a general blood test. Blood is donated to identify certain cells or breakdown products (metabolites) in it. Sometimes antibodies are detected in the blood, and PCR is used to analyze the human genetic material.

A blood test can be done during menstruation, and sometimes even necessary. Next, we’ll talk about in what situations this is necessary, and what is best avoided during menstruation.

To begin with, it must be said that during menstruation you can and should donate blood from a vein; menstrual blood is not used for tests.

=

=

Changes in blood composition during menstruation

During menstruation (menarche), the upper layer of the endometrium of the uterus is shed. This leads to bleeding from the woman's genital tract. The following changes occur in the peripheral blood:

• an increase in ESR, which is a marker of inflammation; this is considered normal during menstruation;
• reducing the number of platelets and clotting factors, this is necessary to reduce the viscosity of biological fluid and prevent the formation of clots;
• decrease in the number of leukocytes;
• decrease in the amount of hemoglobin and red blood cells due to blood loss;
• changes in hormone ratios;
• decreased plasma levels.

Important! All changes occur within normal limits; in a healthy woman they do not affect or slightly change the state of health. Losses are quickly replenished after menstruation ends.

The relationship between donation and menstruation

There would seem to be no connection between the physiological feature and the medical procedure. However, this opinion is wrong. Both processes lead to blood loss, which is so important for the whole body.

Giving it up during menstruation is a very dangerous activity for a woman, because the already severe deprivation of the body of biological fluid is aggravated by an additional decrease in its amount.

Characteristics of the menstrual cycle

Such manipulations can lead not only to dizziness and poor health, but also to fainting. Often, fainting is triggered by sudden changes in pressure: either an immediate increase or an instant decrease.

We recommend reading about what tests you can and cannot take during your period. From the article you will learn about the effect of menstruation on blood counts, normal blood test readings during menstruation, examinations that are not affected by menstruation.

And here is more information about what hormones are actively produced during menstruation.

Recommendations for donating blood

To undergo laboratory tests, you must follow the recommendations of your doctors. They will help to obtain reliable data in one study.

1. You should not eat food 12 hours before testing. During the day - drink alcohol. 2-3 hours before - smoking.
2. Laboratory tests are carried out only in the morning, with the exception of hormonal studies.
3. Stop taking medications 5 days before donating biological fluid. If this causes a sharp deterioration in health, the drug is not discontinued, but the doctor is warned about it.
4. It is not recommended for women to take tests on menstruation days, as the data will not be reliable.

For donation, recommendations are supplemented. Biological fluid cannot be given to persons under the age of majority, pregnant women, lactating women, infectious patients, people with addiction (alcohol, drugs).

Is it possible to conduct a hormone test?

Representatives of the fair sex are quite often prescribed various hormonal tests that make it possible to identify quantitative and qualitative indicators of individual components involved in a number of metabolic processes.

As practice shows, in most cases, an analysis of hormones in the presence of menstruation can be carried out, especially if it is necessary to identify certain indicators that can be monitored exclusively on critical days.

At the same time, an important limitation is the recommended timing of the event; usually it is in the range of 5-6 days from the start of the new cycle.

Optimal and recommended in this context are the detection of levels of Prolactin, Cortisol, Estradiol, Testosterone, luteinizing hormone and FSH.

Is it possible to donate blood during menstruation?

During menarche, changes in peripheral blood and hormonal balance occur. Some women experience severe abdominal pain, during which they use painkillers, the presence of which is contraindicated during donation, but is allowed for research of biological fluid.

When taking tests that are not recommended during menstruation, false positive results may occur:

• the presence of inflammation (increased ESR);
• hypoglycemia (low blood sugar);
• insufficiency of the immune system (decreased leukocytes);
• anemia (decrease in red blood cells and hemoglobin);
• decreased level of clotting, which occurs with infections, blood diseases (hemophilia).

A doctor may miss the following diseases due to false negative data:

• increased coagulability, which indicates a tendency to form clots and the risk of thrombosis and heart attacks;
• oncological diseases;
• allergies to foods, medications, herbs;
• liver pathologies (decreased bilirubin).

Why you shouldn't donate blood during your period

There are laboratory tests that will show erroneous results if done during your period. They are presented in the table.

Important! Menstruation is a contraindication for blood donation. The procedure leads to a deterioration in health.

After the procedure, a woman will experience:

• dizziness due to decreased blood pressure and blood sugar;
• nausea, which can turn into vomiting, which will further reduce the amount of fluid in the body;
• sudden loss of strength;
• dehydration due to lack of plasma;
• decreased body temperature, chills.

During menarche, a small amount of intravascular fluid is lost. If blood loss increases, it affects the body. An additional contraindication for donation during menstruation is the use of medications by a woman (painkillers, hormonal drugs in case of cycle failure). There are exceptions in the form of emergency donation, which will help save a person’s life.

Permitted blood tests

There are laboratory tests where you can donate blood during your period. The presence of hormones is used to judge a woman’s ability to conceive, the health of her reproductive system, and the presence of ovulation.

1. Luteinizing hormone stimulates the formation of estrogen, which causes ovulation. The study is carried out in the middle of the cycle.
2. Prolactin is responsible for the occurrence of lactation. The analysis is carried out at different times of the cycle at the same time of day.
3. Follicle-stimulating hormone - is found in different concentrations depending on the phase of the cycle. The maximum peak occurs during ovulation. Examine several times during the month.
4. Estradiol - determines the reproductive function of a woman. If it is disturbed, additional uterine bleeding appears. The analysis is carried out several times per cycle.

In addition to studying hormones, other tests are allowed that will not give false results:

• blood type, Rh factor (these data are constant throughout life);
• PCR - determines the exact number of pathogenic microorganisms, their variety (their number does not depend on the formed elements and plasma);
• serology - testing that determines the presence of viruses in biological fluid;
• analysis for HIV, AIDS, syphilis, tuberculosis.

How to test for HIV in women

There are no significant differences in the examination for the presence of antibodies to the retrovirus in representatives of the stronger or weaker sex. To obtain more reliable results, experts recommend taking tests on an empty stomach. Biological material for determining HIV in a girl can be:

1. Blood. The biological substance is collected from the ulnar vein in a laboratory setting. Before donating blood, the last meal should be no more than 8 hours before. The results are prepared in about 2-10 days.
2. Urine. To test for retroviruses, morning urine is used; you need to collect a medium portion.

The causative agent of immunodeficiency is determined by using methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunofluorescence analysis. They give the most accurate results.

How to determine AIDS in women during pregnancy? The same diagnostic methods are used for examination. Mostly blood is taken as biological material. During the entire period of pregnancy, the patient must be tested for antibodies to the retrovirus 2 times in order to diagnose the disease in cases where the woman became infected after conception

This is important to prevent the transmission of immunodeficiency to the fetus

Can I get tested for HIV during my period?

During menstruation, some blood parameters change.
Therefore, there is an opinion that it is better not to take an HIV test during menstruation, as there is a possibility of obtaining a false result. Indeed, there are studies that it is better to refuse during this period, for example, biochemical tests, determination of quality blood parameters, tumor markers. As for HIV tests, examinations can be carried out during menstruation, since even during this period it is possible to accurately determine the presence of an infectious process in the body. If there are signs of reduced immunity, a person often gets colds or rapidly loses weight for no reason, you should definitely consult a doctor and get a referral for a test to rule out possible HIV infection. Timely detection and initiation of treatment for immunodeficiency is the key to a full life even with such a diagnosis.

Interesting materials on this topic!

16 May 2020, 08:51 Which celebrities are HIV positive? HIV does not “select” people with a certain social status - evidence of this are celebrities who became infected at a young or older age. That...

May 15, 2020, 10:10 pm Menstruation with HIV Menstruation directly depends on the state of a woman’s body, so malfunctions in the immune system can affect its changes. Investigation of the problem and its timely treatment...

15 May 2020, 22:54 Probability of HIV infection in women The risk of HIV infection in women and men depends on the method of transmission of the retrovirus. Previously, it was believed that only prostitutes, drug addicts and homosexuals suffered from immunodeficiency. However…

Tatyana — July 25, 2020, 09:02

Are there free laboratories? There are no funds for paid HIV tests.

How long after menstruation can you donate blood?

For each laboratory test, there are restrictions for women to donate blood. In order for the studies to show reliable results and not have to repeat the testing, you need to know about the recommended time of the cycle phase for taking the tests presented in the table.

Donation is carried out 5 days before menarche and 7 days after their end. These days, the body is not preparing for the endometrium, the amount of hormones is stable and does not affect the body. After the end of menstruation (about 7 days from its start), the intravascular fluid is restored, the number of formed elements stabilizes. The time period before menarche (5 days) is indicated so that the body can prepare for endometrial rejection without unnecessary stress on the body.

Standard results

When you receive test results, you want to quickly look at the treasured sheet and analyze the indicators. However, this cannot always be done quickly, since the numbers next to the names of the elements being checked are often unclear.

To be clear, you should know what results are normal:

1. Leukocytes. The norm per 1 ml is from 3500 to 10000 units.
2. Hemoglobin. There should be at least 120 grams per liter and no more than 160. This figure is calculated specifically for the fair sex. Pregnancy requires a special approach to the analysis of this indicator.
3. Red blood cells. The normal value can range from 0.85 to 1.05.
4. Hematocrit Normally - from 35% to 45%.

A result that is above the norm or with a clear decrease should be immediately shown to a doctor. Self-medication is in most cases unacceptable. Deviations from the norm in most studies may indicate the presence of serious health problems. Delay can cost your life.

How to delay your period for a few days? Read the article about the physiology of the female body, ways to delay menstruation, and medications that can be taken for these purposes.

Can there be a fever before menstruation? Information here.

Consequences of donating during menstruation

In addition to the disruption to a woman's physical condition when donating during menarche, there are additional health risks. The following negative processes may occur:

• menstrual irregularities (failure, delay, premature onset);
• changes in hormone levels due to stress on the body;
• scarcity of biological fluid secretions during menstruation due to a decrease in the amount of plasma;
• reducing the body's resistance to pathogenic microorganisms.

Reasons for prohibiting donation

There are reasons why you should not donate during your period:

• During the menstrual cycle, the girl’s general condition worsens significantly, she becomes weaker, and drowsiness appears. This is due to a decrease in the level of sex hormones contained in the blood. If a woman donates blood at such a time, this may adversely affect her health and provoke short-term or long-term fainting;
• During critical days, the composition of the blood fluid also changes. Hemoglobin decreases significantly (distributes oxygen throughout tissues). This is due to hormonal imbalance and a decrease in the number of red blood cells, which help it move through the vessels. A reduced level of this microelement causes severe weakening of the body;
• Critical days are accompanied by a deterioration in the functioning of the immune system, resulting in an increased likelihood of infection in the body. If you donate during your period, the recovery process will last much longer than on normal days;
• Also, during regulation, blood pressure undergoes changes (it can either increase or fall). If at this moment the girl donates biological fluid for transfusion, then the walls of the blood arteries may be greatly damaged;
• Very often, menstruation is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, which can be eliminated by taking painkillers that penetrate into the blood. During its delivery, it is very important that the liquid does not contain unnecessary medicinal elements that adversely affect its quality.

Is it possible to donate plasma during menstruation?

To donate plasma, whole blood is taken from the patient. It is filtered in a medical device, and the formed elements (platelets and red blood cells + saline) are returned back inside the vessels located on the other arm. Up to 12 procedures per year are allowed. Plasma is restored faster than formed elements. Its amount depends on the fluid consumed.

Regardless of the fact that the amount of plasma quickly returns to normal, doctors do not advise donating it during menarche due to the following risks:

• a sharp decrease in the amount of plasma, leading to blockage of blood vessels with a thrombus or atherosclerotic plaque;
• a sharp decrease in blood pressure;
• deterioration of the patient's well-being.

The timing for donating plasma is 3 days before menarche and 10 days after, when the amount of fluid returns to normal. It is recommended to drink plenty of water to help this process go faster.

How to properly take a urine test during menstruation

In order to prevent foreign matter from getting into the urine, you must adhere to the following rules:

• use a disposable clean urine container;
• Carry out the entire procedure with hands washed with soap;
• the external genitalia should be washed with antibacterial soap, dried with a towel and a tampon inserted;
• the first portion of urine is not collected, but only the middle part, in a volume of about forty milliliters, is completed by urinating into the toilet;
• in this case, you need to ensure that urine does not come into contact with the external genitalia;
• the container is closed and sent to the laboratory. In this case, the submitted material should not be stored for more than two hours.

The menstrual period in a woman is a condition when hormonal imbalance occurs, the load on the circulatory system increases, and along with the blood, the outflow of the cellular layer of the uterine mucosa occurs. That is, certain changes occur in the body. Therefore, the answer to the question “is it possible” depends on the purpose and purpose of this procedure.

Being a donor during this period is strictly prohibited. Why can't you donate blood during your period? The thing is that menstruation significantly reduces hemoglobin levels. A woman's body experiences stress from natural blood loss. Therefore, the procedure may have a negative impact on the condition of the body, and severe bleeding may occur. It is best to donate blood three to five days after your period ends and the body has fully recovered.

Regarding whether it is possible to conduct a blood test during menstruation, we will indicate the following. There are no contraindications for this as such. Although the results obtained may be false. Why is this happening:

During menstruation, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate changes, its increase is noticeable, the same blood readings are observed during inflammatory processes in the body. Blood clotting increases, so material taken from a vein may give a distorted result. The level of platelets decreases. During menstruation, hemoglobin and red blood cells are increased in the blood.

Therefore, a doctor who sends a patient for a blood test needs to know if the woman is currently menstruating. Today, doctors come to a consensus that blood tests should not be carried out during menstruation, since the results do not reflect the true picture of the state of the body. And they insist that this can only be done if there is an indication for emergency surgery, since you need to donate blood to get a general picture of the body’s condition.

Let's consider how to take a blood test for a woman so that the results correspond to the true indicators? So, it is recommended:

• donate blood on the third, or even better, the fifth day after the end of your period;
• Do not eat for 12 hours before blood sampling.

To get a real picture, we recommend strictly following the doctor’s recommendations and informing him if the referral for tests coincides with the period of menstruation. Then the doctor will most likely reschedule the date of clinical trials, thereby minimizing the possibility of making a false diagnosis based on inaccurate data.