Sex and sexual behaviour

A new sexual partner prevents blood donation for four months due to the risk of HIV infection. A sex partner refers to a person with whom you have had sexual intercourse or anal or oral sex.

Changing your sexual partner – for example, getting back together with an ex-partner – is considered the same as having a new sexual partner.

If you have had more than one sexual partner in the last four months, you cannot give blood. You can give blood again when you have had no more than one sexual partner in the last four months.

The selling and buying of sexual services prevents blood donation for four months.

Even though the use of condoms significantly reduces the risk of infection, it does not remove it entirely. This is why the use of condoms do not affect blood donation restrictions related to sexual contact.

Would you like more information? Please call the free information number for blood donors on 0800 0 5801 (Mon to Fri from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.).