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Is Your Sex Life Too Active to Donate Organs?

More than one partner in year could label you as risky

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Dec 11, 2011 12:50 PM CST

(Newser) – Anyone who has had sex with two or more people in the past year could be classified as a risky organ donor even if they possess no other risk factors, according to new health guidelines proposed by the CDC. The new federal policy would flag organ donors who have not been monogamous for the previous 12 months as at increased risk for carrying HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C, reports MSNBC's health blog, Vitals.

That's a wee bit too broad, say critics. “With the new guidelines, every college student in America will be high risk,” says a surgeon at the University of Virginia. “Right now, it's probably a prostitute or a guy with a needle in his arm. Next time, it will be just a young guy." The CDC emphasizes that the proposal is only in draft form and can be changed; the idea is just to get more information about prospective donors.

Proposed new CDC rules would classify people with two or more sexual partners in the past year as risky organ donors. (Shutterstock)

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Is Your Sex Life Too Active to Donate Organs?

More than one partner in year could label you as risky

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health • HIV • sex • organ donor • hepatitis B • hepatitis C • organ donation • promiscuity • CDC

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