Is blood given during menstruation?
One of the most frequently asked questions on the Internet is on our agenda: Can I give blood while on my period?
During menstruation, the body loses blood, but menstruation does not prevent blood donation, if necessary, you can donate blood safely. When we look at the mathematics of the work, we see that there is 4.7 - 5.5 liters of blood in an adult human body (depending on weight). In blood donation, we give 10% of this rate, ie 470 ml. When we menstruate, we lose 1-2% of the blood in the body.
How much blood is lost during menstruation?
Most people lose between 40 and 60 ml (5 to 9 teaspoons or 1.5 shot glasses or half a teaspoon) of blood during their period. Heavy menstrual bleeding is defined as a blood loss of 80 ml or more per cycle. Of course, we don't just lose blood when we menstruate. According to research, 36% of menstrual flow is blood, while the remaining 64% consists of mucus, uterine tissue and clots . Because we are talking about a heterogeneous mixture, it can be difficult to measure complete blood loss.
Of course, donating a week after your period may be a better choice. However , if you don't have a lot of bleeding or a disease and your hemoglobin level is above 11 g/dL, it's okay to donate blood. If you have heavy menstrual bleeding, you may feel sick and sluggish as a loss such as blood donation will reduce hemoglobin and iron levels in the body.
Is it okay to have a blood test while on your period?
Giving blood for a blood test while on your period may cause you to see different results depending on the test. Since hormones (especially progesterone and estrogen) are affected in the menstrual cycle, the results of hormone tests may differ, while other blood tests are not affected.
Always talk to experts before getting a blood test and donating blood, and don't be afraid to ask any questions. Health workers will make the most accurate guidance.
