I donated my first pint in 1966 and continued up to 2001, when I had to stop after a stroke and I personally never had a problem, though to be honest I do know the rare person whodid. Unlike puternut shortly after telling them that I would be unavailable in the future and why I recieved a very nice letter thanking me for my past donations and wishing me well or the future. Sherrardk, if you've a rare group please contact the transfusion Service they'll tell you if it's ok to give blood and they're always need the common groups let alone the rarer ones and as poodicat says it doesn't hurt