My friend who got pregnant, married her boyfriend – the college wouldn’t otherwise provide joint accommodation for them as they juggled studying and parenthood. ‘Living together’ was still frowned upon.

As a Christian, I chose chastity before marriage. I have always, however, respected other people’s lifestyle choices. But a recent incident has made me wonder.

My blood group is O negative, the ‘universal donor’ blood - it could be given to anyone! Unfortunately, I don’t make a good donor.

On the last occasion, I had a serious delayed reaction. This, I discovered a couple of weeks ago, combined with my small size, means I am banned for life from giving blood unless I ‘make a significant weight gain’. Fantastic! I have useful blood but am a useless donor!

This was very depressing. I had just read the long list of questions which filter out any blood which may put recipients at risk. Many had to do with sexual habits or lifestyle choices.

Had I had sex with a partner who is or may be HIV positive or a hepatitis C carrier? Was I or had I been an intravenous drug user or had sex with someone who might be? And so on.

I predict difficulties for our blood banks. Only 6 per cent of the population chooses to give blood and of those some, like me, will be unable to for physiological reasons or because of frequent foreign travel. As our society continues to tolerate a range of lifestyle choices which increase the prevalence of STDs, HIV/AIDS and hepatitis, how many will continue to be able to give blood? How many of us will be able to guarantee the health of our sexual partners?

Perhaps my respect for individuals’ different lifestyle choices has been misplaced? Perhaps the risk to the well-being of the whole community is too great?

Perhaps we would do well to take more seriously the major faith groups’ insistence on chastity and fidelity? In the meanwhile, have you considered giving blood? I wish I could!

www.blood.co.uk

www.warwick-baptists.org.uk