What are the implications of thalassemia minor, and can I donate blood?

Doctor's Answer

Photo of Dr Heap Yong Seah
Dr Heap Yong Seah

General Practitioner

Hi Charlotte

Sorry to hear about your Thalassaemia minor, but on the whole, you can still lead a reasonably normal lifestyle.

There are many different types of Thalassaemias, but Thalassaemia minor usually means that one of your haemoglobin genes is mutated and is therefore not functioning. The good news is that the other normal working haemoglobin genes are still able to produce sufficient haemoglobin for your body to function, and most people with thalassaemia will not realise it until they go for a routine health screening, or when they attempt to donate blood when they are found to be mildly anaemic (anaemia = low haemoglobin). Apart from this, you will live a normal life and you have nothing to worry about except for the following three scenarios.

1. When you do find a partner, try to find a partner who is not a thalassaemia minor as well (you might want to bring him to a family doctor for a simple blood test). If he is also a thalassaemia minor, then there is a chance your child can have Thalassaemia major, and this baby will have a lot of health issues and may require regular transfusions from the hospital, not to mention the financial strain it will have on you.

2. As for blood donations, as long as your haemoglobin level is above 12 g/dl, most blood banks will allow the donation. But since most thalassaemia minor patients have the haemoglobin hovering between 10 to 11 g/dl, the blood bank will usually reject the case because you will feel very giddy after donating one pint of blood. The blood bank prevents you from donating blood because if your safety and well being, and thalassaemia is not transmissible via transfusion.

3. If you are into competitive sports, try not to push yourself when it comes to endurance events. Most thalassaemia minor boys in the army will be downgraded to non-combat vocations.

Apart from the above 3, you can pretty much live a normal life and have a normal life expectancy. So just send your boyfriend for a thalassaemia test when you are considering settling down in the future.

Regards,

Dr Seah Heap Yong

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox