Men in monogamous same-sex relationships will face no restrictions when donating blood, according to a new risk assessment by the health ministry and the German Medical Association, seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Men who engage in sexual activity with more than one man or with a new male partner and straight people with “frequently changing partners” will have to wait four months before being allowed to donate blood, the 77-page document says.
A health ministry spokeswoman said the provisions would be introduced in the next review of the blood donation rules but declined to say when this would take place.
The COVID-19 pandemic has led several countries, including Britain and Australia, to lift bans on blood donation imposed during