Plasma donation is an altruistic act that can save lives, help others, and ultimately provide financial relief to donors. Donors usually feel rewarded and satisfied after donating, but may at times feel anxious before donating, especially when donating plasma for the first time. Fear of needles, fainting, not qualifying, or health concerns can prevent people from donating. To overcome these common fears, it is important to focus on the cause and understand the process. Here are some tricks to help you manage your anxiety and have a smooth donation experience.

Needle phobia is one of the biggest and most common concerns for donors. If you are considering becoming a donor and are afraid of needles, here are some tips.

The plasma donation needle is a regular needle used for blood work, usually a 16 gauge needle that is connected to the apheresis machine. Your blood goes into the machine and returns to your body (without the plasma) through the needle itself.

You may feel a pinch when the needle is inserted, similar to an earlobe piercing. To reduce the stress, you can:

If you are nervous or anxious, you may feel some discomfort because your muscles are tense, but the procedure itself (called apheresis) is considered painless.

While you are hooked up to the apheresis machine, it may seem even harder to distract yourself from the needle in your arm, but you can relax by:

It is a good idea to bring someone with you to support you and help you stay calm and relaxed.

Plasma donation is a rewarding experience, but the fear of fainting may hold you back. Sometimes donors experience dizziness, lightheadedness, and fainting, but severe reactions are extremely rare.

To be in good shape for the day of donation, you can rest and drink plenty of water the days before. Staying hydrated will make the process much easier.

Unlike donating whole blood, you do not need to fast before donating plasma. Instead, you should have a nutritious and healthy meal beforehand but try to avoid fatty foods such as French fries.

If you feel dizzy during the donation process, you can do simple exercises called Applied Muscle Tension (AMT). The goal is to prevent the drop in blood pressure that makes you faint.

It is better for you to wait a little (20–30 minutes) before leaving the medical center after donating, to make sure you feel okay and ready to continue with your day.

To prevent feelings of weakness, you can avoid strenuous activity and continue to hydrate afterward.

It is also a good idea to go to your nearest donation center with someone you know (a friend or family member…) for support. Remember that the medical staff is always there for you during the donation process. If you feel any discomfort, don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Some people might worry that donating plasma is a long and strenuous process. However, this is not true. When you donate, the volume of collected plasma varies between 500 to 1000 ml, depending on factors like body weight. This amount is replenished within a few hours, which is why donating plasma doesn’t weaken your immune system.

To avoid feeling tired, it is a good idea to take care of yourself before and after your donation. This means:

These simple steps can help you stay healthy, especially when you’re preparing to donate plasma.

You must meet certain criteria to be able to donate plasma. Deferrals are often temporary, so do not worry and most importantly, do not give up donating. You may be eligible again in a short time.

Common temporary deferrals include:

When the medical staff completes all the paperwork, they will ask you about these conditions and your general health and medical history. To avoid anxiety when donating plasma, find out about temporary deferrals in advance: your nearest donation center can assist you. Do not hesitate to ask if you have any doubts.

Common fears can prevent you from donating plasma. Being well-informed will make you more aware of the process and may also help you overcome them. Keep in mind that healthy habits (such as drinking plenty of water, eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly…) will make the donation process smoother and easier.

Once done, most reluctant donors agree that the donation process is easier than expected and very gratifying. Donating plasma helps not only in emergencies but also in treatments and research.

Visit your local donation center to get your questions answered and become a donor!