Hi all,
About five and a half years ago I had unprotected sex (with the withdrawal method) with someone who I found out later was a recently recovered heroin addict. Knowing him I don’t think he would have directly chosen to use used needles, but it’s possible for someone to once they are already under the influence of drugs and are more prone to making risky choices since drugs can dull your mental functioning.
I have been tested multiple times for STDs and STI, and got an annual physical last year, but I’ve considered it’s possible that there is another STD, STI, or another disease that has not been discovered, an unknown disease, or that there might also be a disease that is non-STD/STI that I have, in which case the STD/STI testing wouldn’t have uncovered it.
It’s possible to have a disease for years and not show symptoms (asymptomatic), so what if I have a disease of the above mentioned type.
I have donated blood many times (12-15+) since the incident since I had been STI/STD tested. I feel terrible and I fear I gave someone a disease. However if I haven’t heard anything from the Red Cross about a recipient having a disease (since if you spread a disease to enough people the odds are that some will have symptoms), so that seems like some evidence but it’s always possible for it to not be traced to you, the donor.
I’m concerned I’ve given someone a disease or that I have a disease, and unless I can find reasons for it then it seems that I should never donate blood again, but is it possible I may someday be able to?
I know that the Red Cross asks if you have had sex with someone who has ever taken drugs with a needle, within a certain time period (I think it’s a year). This means that if I reported this to them they would not put a mark on my donations since it’s not technically against their rules. I wonder if it means that medically the odds are actually quite good. Perhaps that’s why they have those rules, though to me it seems somewhat risky in my opinion.
About five and a half years ago I had unprotected sex (with the withdrawal method) with someone who I found out later was a recently recovered heroin addict. Knowing him I don’t think he would have directly chosen to use used needles, but it’s possible for someone to once they are already under the influence of drugs and are more prone to making risky choices since drugs can dull your mental functioning.
I have been tested multiple times for STDs and STI, and got an annual physical last year, but I’ve considered it’s possible that there is another STD, STI, or another disease that has not been discovered, an unknown disease, or that there might also be a disease that is non-STD/STI that I have, in which case the STD/STI testing wouldn’t have uncovered it.
It’s possible to have a disease for years and not show symptoms (asymptomatic), so what if I have a disease of the above mentioned type.
I have donated blood many times (12-15+) since the incident since I had been STI/STD tested. I feel terrible and I fear I gave someone a disease. However if I haven’t heard anything from the Red Cross about a recipient having a disease (since if you spread a disease to enough people the odds are that some will have symptoms), so that seems like some evidence but it’s always possible for it to not be traced to you, the donor.
I’m concerned I’ve given someone a disease or that I have a disease, and unless I can find reasons for it then it seems that I should never donate blood again, but is it possible I may someday be able to?
I know that the Red Cross asks if you have had sex with someone who has ever taken drugs with a needle, within a certain time period (I think it’s a year). This means that if I reported this to them they would not put a mark on my donations since it’s not technically against their rules. I wonder if it means that medically the odds are actually quite good. Perhaps that’s why they have those rules, though to me it seems somewhat risky in my opinion.
