Spring Break
Donating blood on birth control and low sex drive
Kathy Greaves
Issue date: 4/15/09 Section: Forum
Dear Dr. Sex:
I am planning on donating blood this week and I am on Depo Provera. My question to you: would donating blood have an effect on the effectiveness of my birth control? Basically, would my birth control not work as it usually would by me donating blood? Or does it not make a difference at all? I just thought about it the other day since I know that certain things do affect how birth control works (i.e. antibiotics). I just do not want to feel good about donating blood and then finding out later that I am pregnant because of it. This question may seem odd to you but I figured I would ask since you have a lot of knowledge over these topics.
Signed, Am I Donation Friendly?
Dear Donation Friendly,
It is perfectly safe for you to donate blood this week. Antibiotics can, but don't always, interfere with hormone-based contraceptives, rendering them less effective. That is, however, because you are adding something to the system, allowing it to interact with other medications you are taking. In the case of donating blood, you aren't adding something to your system, but in fact taking something out. If you were thinking that donating blood would remove some of the Depo Provera in your body, that doesn't happen either. So go forth and donate.
Dear Dr. Sex:
I am a student here at OSU and I have been concerned about a recent sexual problem I've been having that is a little embarrassing to talk about. I'm not sure why, but in the last year my sex drive has dropped off considerably. I am a 24-year-old male and am not on any medication. I am single and very social and this has become a problem for me in certain situations. It has actually caused me a lot of distress. The only time when I have noticed a change back to normal is when I have been consistently weightlifting. Though it may be psychological, this type of exercise has seemed to be the only thing that creates any type of spark. I am wondering what I should do. Is this treatable? I am just a bit concerned.
I am planning on donating blood this week and I am on Depo Provera. My question to you: would donating blood have an effect on the effectiveness of my birth control? Basically, would my birth control not work as it usually would by me donating blood? Or does it not make a difference at all? I just thought about it the other day since I know that certain things do affect how birth control works (i.e. antibiotics). I just do not want to feel good about donating blood and then finding out later that I am pregnant because of it. This question may seem odd to you but I figured I would ask since you have a lot of knowledge over these topics.
Signed, Am I Donation Friendly?
Dear Donation Friendly,
It is perfectly safe for you to donate blood this week. Antibiotics can, but don't always, interfere with hormone-based contraceptives, rendering them less effective. That is, however, because you are adding something to the system, allowing it to interact with other medications you are taking. In the case of donating blood, you aren't adding something to your system, but in fact taking something out. If you were thinking that donating blood would remove some of the Depo Provera in your body, that doesn't happen either. So go forth and donate.
Dear Dr. Sex:
I am a student here at OSU and I have been concerned about a recent sexual problem I've been having that is a little embarrassing to talk about. I'm not sure why, but in the last year my sex drive has dropped off considerably. I am a 24-year-old male and am not on any medication. I am single and very social and this has become a problem for me in certain situations. It has actually caused me a lot of distress. The only time when I have noticed a change back to normal is when I have been consistently weightlifting. Though it may be psychological, this type of exercise has seemed to be the only thing that creates any type of spark. I am wondering what I should do. Is this treatable? I am just a bit concerned.
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