You may give blood during a period, but if you are having a particularly heavy period it would be better for you not to. This is because any form of blood loss can reduce the iron levels in your body and potentially make you feel unwell for a short time. If you are having medical investigations please wait until these have been completed. You must also exclude pregnancy if a period has been missed before you give blood.
women can donate every 16 weeks (so about 3 times a year). Men can give every 12 weeks as they have more haemoglobin in their blood." if you donate too frequently. Haemoglobin ( the red pigment in your blood) levels vary from person to person. Men usually have higher levels than women due to women having periods, but we set a fairly high 'cut-off' level because we want to be sure that your haemoglobin will not drop below normal after you have donated."
"Eating regularly before donating will help to keep your blood sugar levels stable. This is important so that you don’t feel lightheaded or dizzy after your donation. Having a snack before donation can help maintain these blood sugar levels. Ensuring that your diet contains foods rich in iron - such as meats and green leafy vegetables - will help to keep you feeling well during and after donation.
