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# Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Includes

  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT):

  Includes tablets, patches or topical gels as treatments for menopausal symptoms.

Excludes

  Masculising or feminising hormones taken to support gender transition. See Transgender and non-binary individuals.

  Testosterone replacement therapy for treatment of male testosterone deficiency. See Testosterone replacement therapy.

Obligatory

  See: is there an entry for the condition for which the hormones are being given?

  Must not donate if:

  1. Used for malignancy.
  2. A recipient of human gonadotrophin of pituitary origin.
  3. A recipient of human pituitary growth hormone.
  4. A recipient of replacement adrenal steroid hormones.
Discretionary
  1. If treatment is for the menopause, its symptoms, or for osteoporosis prevention, accept.
  2. If treated with growth hormone that was exclusively recombinant, accept.
  3. If treated with gonadotrophins that were exclusively non-pituitary derived, accept.

## Supporting information

See if relevant
  - Adrenal failure
  - Anti-androgens
  - Haemochromatosis
  - Malignancy
  - Prion-associated diseases
  - Steroid therapy
  - Testosterone replacement therapy
  - Thyroid disease
  - Transgender and non-binary individuals
Additional information

  There are many reasons why an individual may be deficient in a specific hormone. If this is related directly to malignancy, or to the treatment of malignancy, or to the use of pituitary derived hormones (these have been linked with prion associated diseases), the donor cannot donate in order to protect any person who may receive a donation from that individual.

  If there is a risk to the safety of the donor, as may be the case with a deficiency of adrenal steroid hormones, then a donation should not be taken.

Regulatory information

  Part of this entry is a requirement of the Blood Safety and Quality Regulations 2005.

Reason for change:
  Guidance for gender-affirming therapy and male testosterone deficiency has been removed from this entry. Users are now directed to the 'Transgender and non-binary individuals' and 'Testosterone replacement therapy' entries.
Version:
  Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 79 (17 February 2026)

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