The Plasma Overview:
Composition of Plasma:
Plasma is an important part of our blood. It makes up 55% of the total blood volume. It is a yellowish-white color component of the blood. It is composed of 95% of water along with a variety of proteins (albumin, globulin, and fibrinogen), electrolytes (Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, HCO3-, Cl-), hormones (FSH, TSH, Prolactin, adrenaline) and various gases including (oxygen and carbon dioxide).
Plasma is also an essential means of transporting various immunoglobulins required to maintain the immune system, and it carries platelets and white blood cells.
Function of Plasma in the body:
Plasma plays an essential role in the body in maintaining a healthy physiological environment:
- Plasma is an important mode of transportation for various nutrients like glucose, amino acids, vitamins, and proteins, which are absorbed from the intestinal villi and distributed to entire tissues and cells of the body as a source of energy to promote growth and development.
- Plasma aids in transporting respiratory gases like oxygen to all cellular compartments of the body and returns carbon dioxide to the lungs to excrete.
- It helps remove nitrogenous waste from the no longer-needed cells and transport them to the kidneys, skin, and lungs.
- Plasma proteins play an active role in the blood coagulation cascade.
- Important route of hormonal hauling toward the target organ.
- It helps maintain blood pressure and safeguards arteries and veins from collapsing.
- Plasma plays a significant role in body thermal regulation.
- It acts as an important way of water redistribution to the entire body as well as the pH of the body
The importance of Plasma donation:
Various people have become familiar with the plasma donation process; however, only some understand its importance. Before knowing about ”Can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle?” it is necessary to recognize the importance of plasma donation. Here, some aspects are discussed where plasma donation is mandatory to someone.
- Plasma donation is required in cases where the patient in the hospital suffers from critical burns, usually deep second-degree and third-degree burns.
- It is needed for patients suffering from severe trauma as a result of an accident and/or the patient undergoing shock due to severe infection or burn.
- It is required in patients suffering from autoimmune and coagulation disorders like (thrombocytopenic purpura, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and antithrombin III deficiency).
- Plasma is also a treatment option for patients suffering from liver failure.
- Various cancer patients need healthy plasma as it contains WBCs and antibodies, and the patient’s plasma is deficient in these.
- Plasma is also required for patients with severe blood loss and a sharp decline in blood electrolyte levels. Plasma ensures the maintenance of the deficiency of electrolytes and the body’s pH.
The connection between plasma donation and potential impacts on the menstrual cycle:
Can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle? The relationship between plasma donation and its consequences on menstruation has been under debate for a long time. Scientists believe donating plasma is not the sole reason for delaying your periods. Various other physiological and psychological factors contribute.
The Plasma Donation Process:
Before understanding the scenario “Can you donate plasma on your period?” it is suitable to know the complete plasma donation process.
- Before initiating the plasma donation process, the lab technicians or nurse take a blood sample and get your vital signs, including bp, pulse, and temperature.
- Now, the staff set up the plasmapheresis machine. It is a specific machine used to collect all the blood from your vein and separate the plasma from it, and the remaining portion of blood, usually RBCs, is returned to the body via the same needle.
- Saline is given to maintain the circulation. Sometimes, oral intake of fluids is also recommended. The process ends in an hour. The staff monitors the donors during the procedure to ensure they remain safe.
Common side effects of plasma donation:
For most donors, the process of plasma donation is asymptomatic. However, a few of the donors experienced side effects:
- fatigue.
- Bleeding.
- Dehydration.
- Hypotension.
- Light headness.
- Sweating.
- Nausea.
The Menstrual Cycle Basics:
The menstrual cycle, also known as menstruation, is a monthly normal physiological process. It is a series of phases in the ovary and the uterus under the influence of reproductive hormones to mature the egg to fertilize with the sperm in the fallopian tube. It also prepares the uterus for the implantation of fertilized ovum.
If the pregnancy does not occur, the lining of the endometrium is shed along with the blood, and menstruation begins.
Factors that can influence the menstrual cycle:
Various factors influence the menstrual cycle, including
- Race/ethnicity.
- The overall health of the body.
- Hormonal levels associated with intrauterine environment.
- Stress levels.
- Physical activity.
- Levels of alcohol/ Smoking.
- Uterine fibroids, etc.
Latest research expands on “Can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle?”
The plasma donation process is itself not a core reason for the delay in the menstrual cycle. Many other contributing factors, like stress, either mental or physical, can lead to a disturbance in the cycle.
Before the plasma donation, if the body suffers from stress, then the plasma donation process will definitely act as a conducive agent in the journey of menstruation. You may also explore a unique connection between the moon and the menstrual cycle.
Can the donation of plasma impact the cycle deviously?
It has not yet been proven that the plasmapheresis process affects most women’s monthly cycle. We know that plasma is the water proportion of the blood, having various proteins and essential components.
The plasma transfer from one body can cause fluid and protein deprivation in the blood. However, there is no evidence that this will result in the decline of endocrine hormones (estrogen and progesterone), mandatory for maintaining the monthly reproductive cycle.
For a while, we thought plasma donation could result in low endocrine hormonal levels in the blood. It is impossible as the entire endocrine system works like strings of beads. If any hormone is deprived in the blood, whether it is reproductive or someone else, instantly, a specific hormone-associated axis is activated in the body, and its deficiency does not remain.
So it is crystal clear that the deficiency of estrogen and progesterone as a result of plasma donation is not possible due to the activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, which regulates the menstrual cycle, and there is no direct connection that inter-relate them both. We are sure to this question ”Can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle?” with a big no.
Concomitant factors influence the relationship between plasmapheresis and menstruation:
Sometimes, under specific circumstances, certain women still experience a delay in the cycle after plasma donation, so again, the question arises: can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle? So here, various concomitant factors contribute, which are working on the back, and most of the time, we are unable to consider them. So there is a list of such hidden factors that, when coinciding with plasma donation, cause delays in the cycle:
- Anxiety and fear before the donation process can cause emotional stress, which results in a hormonal imbalance that disrupts the menstrual cycle. Emotional stress before and/or during the plasmapheresis can activate the sympathetic nervous system, which releases cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal glands, and these hormones mediate a negative impact on estrogen levels.
- The loss of fluid due to plasma donation initiates dehydration in the body. Still, the condition is temporary and fades away in 1-3 days, but in some cases, if dehydration persists, it can lead to irregularity in the cycle.
- Alternation in the endocrine hormones (estrogen and progesterone) as a consequence of plasma donation is still possible, according to some evidence; however, detailed clinical research favoring this is silent.
- Plasma donation causes a slight decline in the body’s weight due to fluid loss from the body. If the body is already underweight, having a low BMI can cause a delay in menstruation.
- Hormone-binding proteins are responsible for the transportation of hormone molecules to the site of action, and these proteins somehow impact the delicate system of hormones, which regulates the menstrual cycle.
You can also explore some interesting facts regarding ”the pink moon menstrual cycle”.
Preventive measures:
After plasma donation, the changes that occur in the body are quite temporary, and soon, the body returns to its previous physiological condition. If the menstrual irregularity persists after plasma donation, the following precautions will be helpful:
- Try to consider the already existing pathological conditions that cause alternation in the cycle, like PCOS, pregnancy, obesity, stress, etc.
- If the condition persists, try to delay the next plasma donation plan.
- Here, it is good to remember that occasional delays in the cycle are common due to stress, diet, and overall health conditions.
- If the situation is not favorable, it is recommended that you consult the doctor.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, if you’re wondering, “Can donating plasma affect your menstrual cycle?” rest assured that no scientific evidence suggests a direct link between plasma donation and menstrual cycle disruption. Donating plasma is generally considered safe and does not impact reproductive health. Occasional irregularity in the cycle is okay. However, if the individual experiences the disruption for a long period, it’s always a good idea to consult with your healthcare provider to figure out your concerns or notice changes in your menstrual cycle after plasma donation. Prioritize your wellness and keep an open line of communication with your healthcare team for personalized advice.
FAQs:
Does donating plasma affect your period?
No! The plasma donation implies no direct impact on the regularity of the menstrual cycle. However, other contributing factors like dehydration, stress, and weight loss synchronize with plasmapheresis and lead to disturbance in the cycle.
Is there plasma in menstrual blood?
Yes! The menstrual blood also possesses plasma as the peripheral blood. However, the concentration of different electrolytes and glycoproteins varies. There is a low level of platelets and iron in the plasma of the menstrual cycle.
Does donating blood affect hormones?
There is a slight impact on the body’s hormonal levels after blood donation. Still, it is temporary, and rapidly, the body compensates for the deficiency by activating the hypothalamus-pituitary axis to overcome it.
Can donating blood affect ovulation?
No evidence suggests blood donation disrupts ovulation because ovulation is associated with the maturation and release of an egg from the ovary, which is directly concerned with the release of FSH and estrogen.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22865-plasma
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531504/
https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/benefits-of-plasma-donation-.html
https://www.plasmatx.org/can-donating-plasma-delay-your-period/