Under previous rules, gay and bisexual men have not been permitted to donate unless they’ve abstained from sex for three months, being treated as too risky to donate.
This archaic rule will now change, with the government introducing an individualised risk-based policy, which has been called the “most forward-thinking policy for gay and bisexual men in the world”.
Donors – regardless of sexual or sexuality, will now be allowed to donate unless they’ve had anal sex with a new or more than one person in the past three months.
These changes will be implemented by Summer 2021. Dr Michael Brady, Medical Director at Terrence Higgins Trust, welcomed the change.