<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Sexually active gay and bisexual men will be able to donate plasma under a change in rules by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the previous rules, any gay or bisexual men and transgender women who have sex with men cannot donate blood or plasma if they have had sex in the last three months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But from July 14, Lifeblood will remove most sexual activity with times for plasma donations for gay and bisexual men and transgender women, meaning they can donate plasma at any time.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/optus-fined-100-million-for-allegedly-pressuring-customers-into-buying-services-they-didnt-want-or-need/360fa3a2-e07f-4a39-84f3-dc2f032c4317" target="_blank"><strong><span>Optus fined $100 million, subject to court approval, over sales tactics to vulnerable customers</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It means over 100,000 additional people can donate much-needed life-saving plasma, Lifeblood said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're excited to be able to welcome more people from across the community into our donor centres from next month," Lifeblood's chief medical officer Dr Jo Pink said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"With more than 600,0000 people estimated to be covered by the previous wait times, we now anticipate an extra 24,000 donors and 95,000 extra donations of plasma to be made each year."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rule-change-means-gay-and-bisexual-men-can-donate-plasma-without-wait-times/e26a7ec7-ebfc-4de8-8c29-f4ed05c24e8e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They will also accept plasma donations from people taking PrEP, an antiviral taken by people who are HIV-negative that protects them from contracting the illness.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has also approved a submission to remove gender-based sexual activity rules from blood and platelet donation eligibility.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The change means all people with a single sexual partner for six months or more will be eligible to donate blood.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-dies-in-unit-fire-on-sydneys-north-shore/fcb12e07-e279-4c89-acda-ee59f99a8bff" target="_blank"><strong><span>Woman dies after fire breaks out in unit on Sydney's north shore</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Most people with new or multiple partners will also be able to dontate blood under the new laws, as long as they haven't had anal sex in the past three months.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rule change means men will not be asked if they have had sex with another man but rather everyone will be asked the same questions regardless of their gender or sex.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is a significant milestone in being able to safely reduce wait times and make it easier for more people in the LGBTQIA+ community to donate," Pink said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Blood safety is and always will be our top priority, but we know the current donation rules have been very difficult for many people in the LGBTQIA+ community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"While they were put in place to ensure a safe blood supply in the past, we know that they've contributed to the stigma faced by the community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We hope as we move through the process of seeking to have both these changes introduced, that this will be a turning point for both Lifeblood and the LGBTQIA+ community."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>People taking PrEP still won't be able to donate blood despite the changes.</span></div></div>