When you give blood . . . .

[pomtzu]

How much does your hemoglobin count drop?

I ask this question because I gave today. Periodically the Red Cross refuses me because my red cell count is below their limit, around 117. Periodically they accept me because it's above their limit, which is 125. Today was one of the acceptance days. But it got me thinking.

It's not hard to work out that the days when I fail the test are after a period. But I'm darned sure I've never lost as much blood from natural causes as the Red Cross takes from me. It's not like I mistrust them or think the new low would be dangerous. I'm just curious. If a mere menstrual cycle can drop you 10 points in the count, what does giving about three cups of blood do?

I'm confused about the figures that you stated here - 117 & 125. Normal hemoglobin in an adult female ranges between 12 & 16. Maybe the figures that you stated are actually 11.7 and 12.5, tho it doesn't make sense that they wouldn't take it if it was above 12.5

And when you donate, typically your count will drop by 1 - say if you were 13, then after donation you would probably be 12, and it would take on the average of 3-5 weeks to build back up to 13.