The most important thing about being a Sanguinarian is the fact that you must have blood. You probably don't need it to survive, per se, as you're a Human Living Vampire, but it gives you the energy or high that you need to fulfill yourself. Some Sangunarians actually have severe blood cravings, and the physical illnesses (cramping, lethargy, withdrawal) that can be associated with it. So if you are going to feed, and if you are a Sang you will, make sure that you practice safe, sane, and consensual blood feeding practices.

Lets start with Consensual.

In light of the recent article I posted about the boy who killed an old woman in Wales in order to "become immortal" (another insane mortal trying to pretend about vampirism) I think that consensual feeding is a very important topic.

Lets define Consensual: The American Century Dictionary defines Consent as "1. Express willingness; agree 2. Voluntary agreement; permission.

To feed off of ANYONE who is non-consenting is the equivalent of rape. You will face the penalties of anyone who attacks another human beingspecifically you WILL go to jail or prison.

Some people in the SM Community have contracts that they insist that their partners sign. It's an agreement that they have discussed and agreed upon for the specific amount of "play" and the specific types of activities they will and will not be involved in. I have yet to see this in the Vampire community, however that doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. However, for this article, I suggest that when you have a person who is willing to be your donor that you sit down with them and discuss the various means that you will use to feed off of them, what will and will not be involved (some people also add sexual intimacy with their feeding, and this should also be delineated.) Then both of you sign the contract and each keep a copy of it. This could save you some serious legal problems should your donor not be in the emotional or mental state of mind to deal with your feeding.

Which brings us to SANE.

GET TO KNOW YOUR DONOR. If you decide to pick someone up at the pub and bring him or her home and feed from them, you will get what you deserve. There are many out there who have the wrong impression about what vampirism isthanks to books and fantasy and role-playing games. As I said in my article on "Life of a Sanguinarian", you will be confronted with those who will want to become a vampire, but to add to that, you will also be confronted with those who want you to feed off of themor in other words, be a donor. If you don't take your time to weed out the weirdoes, masochists, role players, and fantasy addicts, you could end up with a big issue on your hands. You could end up in jail (teenagers are especially prone to the vampire scene, and if your donor isn't psychologically or emotionally able to handle you feeding they could get you in trouble for sexual abuse or an attack.) You could end up with AIDS, hepatitis, or any number of blood-born diseases. You could be attacked yourself.

The other half of being SANE is to NOT FEED WHILE UNDER THE INFLUENCE! And MAKE SURE YOUR DONOR IS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE! Many numbers of things occur while people are on drugs or alcohol, and people are more prone to do things that they are normally under control of. If you're wasted, what is to keep you from attacking your donor in your passion? If he or she is wasted, how do you know they are really consensual? Also, the donor may over react if under the influence. Finally we get to the most important, to me, part of the article:

SAFE BLOOD FEEDING PRACTICES

Once you have gotten to know your donor well, spent time with them, explained things to them, talked things over with them, answered their questions and addressed their fears, and made a contract, you will want to go get tested for diseases. Since AIDS has a "window period" (may not show up for) of about six months, if you do this at the beginning of your new relationship (yes, this is a relationship, even if you're not partners) by the time you've gotten to know each other your results should be in. Don't just get tested for AIDS. Get tested for Hepatitis as well. Hepatitis is becoming more and more rampant these days. Don't feed off of anyone who uses intravenous drugs (needles) or is having unprotected or anonymous sex. Once you have your results in, you should use the following procedures to ensure that neither on of you will come up with any deadly illnesses:

"Good friends are often the best people to go to, both because you can (usually) trust them, and it's a lot easier to ask for a Drink from someone you know well rather then a stranger."

"Above all, treat your donor with the respect they deserve. Your life would be much more difficult without their existence."

DISEASE CONTROL

AIDS, hepatitis, and syphilis are all deadly to everybody. Don't delude yourself into thinking that your special vampiric qualities will protect you from blood-born diseases. They won't. I know there has never been a survey done by the CDC on the percentage of infected vampires, because we aren't exactly visible as far as minority groups go, but just because vampires are not listed on the lists of infected subcultures doesn't mean we can't be infected (and haven't been).

If you do not know your donor really well (and I mean REALLY well. Friends for a month or two doesn't cut the mustard) you ought to assume that your partner is, in fact, infected with something that you don't want. It is unlikely that you will be infected by drinking bodily fluids of any sort unless you have cuts or sores in your moth or esophagus (as Vyrdolak pointed out in a post on Vampires listserv); what do you do to prevent this? Don't brush and floss your teeth before you feed, although you may want to use mouthwash; certainly don't feed after you have just been to the dentist! (Why do you think dentists use those nifty little contraptions called "dental dams," anyway?) If you have a raw, sore throat don't feed on bodily fluids either. So don't scream your brains out at a rock concert, or feed when you have a cold or flu or throat infection...Also, don't eat extremely spicy food because this burns the esophagus. It will also give you very bad breath, but that's less of a problem. (At least for you. Your partner, on the other hand, probably has a different perspective.) You may want to avoid feeding if you have heartburn. If you are prone to heartburn, find out what is causing it and change your diet.

As for safer sex - for God's sake use a condom, and put gloves on if you are fisting your partner and have cuts on your hand. And use a barrier with oral sex if you have cuts in your mouth but still want to perform oral sex anyway. (Saran Wrap is much nicer than a dental dam - thinner, and it doesn't taste as yucky. It does NOT make a good condom, alas) Make sure your condom is latex, not sheepskin, and is lubricated with nonoxynol-9. During sex, don't just save the condom for when you are just starting to come (if you are male), as men are wont to do. Pre-cum has sperm in it too, and besides, if you have a sore on your "love rocket" it won't make any difference how close you are to coming if it comes in contact with infected vaginal fluid (of course, if you have a sore, what are you doing having sex? Go to the doctor! Sheesh!)

All this you probably know.

As for other forms of sickness - flu bugs, etc -

Don't feed from a partner who is sick. Not only will the energy be polluted (and weak) but your partner needs all the energy s/he has to get well. Let your partner heal up first. Feed your partner things that boost the immune system and general energy level: ginseng, garlic, ginger, goldenseal, echinacea, damiana, and cayenne pepper. (Hopefully your partner's chicken soup is not spiked with all of these things at once. Bleach!)

And again, don't feed while sick. You might spread your germs, and besides, you'll spend more energy feeding than you will recover while eating.

BTW: I forgot to point out that Hepatitis B (and other forms of hepatitis) are a lot sturdier than AIDS, and more contagious. And therefore easier to get. Do yourself a favor and get a series of hepatitis shots. It's a good investment, and it beats worrying.

OSHA recommends that health professionals when handling blood use the following precautions. This information on this data sheet was intended for use by phlebotomists only, but I have chosen to include this here because it is vital that everyone understands fully, exactly how dangerous and risky blood play can be. Again, I must implore everyone to seek professional training in such matters before attempting to draw, handle, or use blood in any way.

Gloves

Wear gloves for all contact when body fluids are involved.

Change gloves between patients and when gloves are soiled or torn.

Wash hands thoroughly after removing gloves. Remove gloves before touching telephones, charts, computers, monitors, doorknobs, refrigerator handles, food, pens/pencils, and elevator buttons.

Carry spare vinyl exam gloves in pocket for use with unexpected contact with blood and body fluids.

Gowns

Wear water-repellent gowns when soiling with blood or body fluids is anticipated.

Mask, Goggles/Glasses

Protect mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth) by wearing a mask and/or glasses/goggles when performing procedures where splashing of the face is likely to occur.

Find safe means of bloodletting, for the sake of your safety and the safety of your donors. I will provide some information regarding the safer practices available, and would urge everyone to follow them.

Unless you are medically trained, avoid major veins and arteries when drawing blood. Any error in judgment, even a slight one, can produce terrible and permanent effects to the health of the circulatory system of your donor if you are not careful. If syringes are the chosen mode of bloodletting, use only the minor veins and arteries, so as to lessen the chances for harm.

On that same note, I would encourage everyone to receive some phlebotomy training or similar blood drawing education at a local vocational school before attempting to use medical blood drawing tools, syringes, vacutainers, etc. As I said, one small error can really cause harm to the donor, and such risks should be avoided when at all possible.

Use only properly sterilized or factory sterilized tools and equipment if you are going to draw blood. Learn the medical procedures and proper means of sterilization. Diseases like Tetanus and Hepatitis are readily transmitted through such unclean practices. Proper techniques may be learned from such places as tattoo parlors and piercing shops, which are required to have medical background and equipment training in many areas.

If open cuts are made to the body, use proper cleaning and bandaging techniques, as to not promote infection. Neosporin, Hydrogen Peroxide, Rubbing Alcohol, Beta dyne, and an array of bandaging supplies should be on hand BEFORE any cuts are made, and applied immediately after feeding has been completed. Infection can take hold quickly, and can be easily avoided by following a few minor safety guidelines.

All areas of the body that are considered for making an open wound should be cleaned with soap and water PRIOR to making the incisions and thoroughly swabbed with rubbing alcohol, so as to promote a clean exchange, as well as cut down the chance of infection. It is best in matters of bloodletting through open wounds, if the donor makes the cuts, themselves. This can ensure that the cuts are not made too deep, or too painful for the donor. A bloodletting experience that is extremely painful may inhibit the donor from ever wanting to donate again, and reliable and regular donors are not a readily available commodity.

A list of other information I have gathered:

IncisionsA wide variety of blades are often implemented to make incisions from which the blood is drawn, drained, or drank directly from. Small cuts on fingertips and other superficial wounds are usually enough to suffice the blood cravings, yielding anywhere from a very small amount to an ounce or more. Care must be taken to ensure that the area does not become infected; so proper washing and bandaging techniques should always be used. Sterilization of the blade is also quite important, as is a supply of anti-bacterial supplies, a clean environment, and bandages. Any blade to be used should be well sharpened, regularly, so as to lessen the damage of the blade. The use of Neosporin or other antibiotic ointments can lessen the chances for infection, and speed the healing process. Among the most common blades used are razor blades, scalpels and craft/hobby knives. Other, more ceremonial or ornate blades are used as well, such as swords, daggers, and those interesting little ornate letter openers, after, of course, being sharpened up. I have also known of those who use common kitchen knives and scissors and such, but would not suggest anyone use such tools, as they are used for many other things, and have a much higher chance of carrying germs and disease potential. It is suggested that any tool used for bloodletting be maintained in a clean, dry place between uses, and not be used for other purposes, whatsoever. It must be stated that cutting too close to veins and arteries, or too deeply can result in permanent damage to the donor, so such things should not be done, under any circumstances.

Ways of Feeding

Punctures

Probably one of the safer means of blood drawing, but it does not yield great quantities, so it is not often used. Commonly used are the sewing needle, safety pins, and metal skewers found in every household. These tools are used to quickly prick the skin; usually finger and applying pressure pushes out toe tips, and then the blood. On the safer and more sanitary side of things, some choose to use Auto lances and small, disposable lancets, for these purposes. The prick is quicker, less painful, and often yields slightly more blood than the average safety pin. These are spring loaded devices that are used by diabetics for testing blood sugar levels, and are available quite inexpensively at most drug stores.

Drawing

This has been considered the safest way to acquire larger quantities of blood, but should only be used by professionally trained persons. These measures require access to medical equipment such as hypodermic needles and sharps, vacutainers, tubing, etc. I will refrain from expounding on this topic, because the only people who have access to such equipment legally are those who are trained to use them. In order for the average person to acquire such things, they would need to be stolen, and the hosts of this site do not condone such illegal acts. The only other means to obtain such things would be to utilize a farm supply or feed shop, where they often sell medicines and syringes for use by farm animal owners for their livestock. Again, I would not encourage anyone to proceed in this line of blood drawing unless one is fully trained and competent.

BITING

Not the safest or most painless way to obtain blood. It can be very sensual to receive a hickey (less sensual to give it, if you are trying to get blood through the skin - you end up sucking so hard that you give yourself tongue burn). Breaking the skin, however, hurts. If you are going to use this method, be sure you have used mouthwash beforehand to minimize germs (I used to recommend brushing the teeth, but this can often cause bleeding gums, which makes swallowing blood very unsafe). Keep a first aid kit handy. The best way to bite someone is in the middle of sex, or sexual foreplay; you'll get a higher endorphin count, and your donor will not notice the pain as much. The neck is the most easily accessed place, and it is very sensitive, but the thighs are more practical in that they can be covered and are at least as sensitive as the neck. If your donor has breasts, they can be a good target area as well; although I don't recommend biting the nipple hard enough to draw blood. Go slow and gradually build up sensation. Then, after you are done with feeding (and sex, if this is in the middle of sexual activity) clean up with a local antiseptic.

You won't get much more than a few drops this way.

If you place your hickey on the carotid artery, you will get a large amount of energy, and you may also cause your partner to slowly asphyxiate. Be careful.

Asphyxiation is an advanced technique and most SM practitioners consider it edge play (most vanilla people consider it weird). You can get somebody off with asphyxiation, adding orgasmic energy and frantic struggle for air to your pool of energy taken, but if you don't know what you are doing you can cause brain damage. Do not strangle your partner for more than 30 seconds at a time. I know it doesn't sound like very long, but trust me, counting to thirty slowly is a very long time indeed, esp. for the person who is fighting for breath. After thirty seconds to a minute (one minute is REALLY not recommended) your partner will begin to pass out for lack of air.

CUTTING

Use a very sharp knife, a lancet, a scalpel, or possibly a very sharp razor. Do not use a dull implement or an exacto knife. This hurts! The sharper the blade, the better. Be careful not to cut any actual veins or arteries - you don't need a whole pint of blood, and you don't want to have to clean up the mess that spurting blood invariably causes. Many vampires think they need a lot more blood than they do, esp. when hungry. Our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. Visualize the spurting jets as you drain your victim of energy, but keep it on the astral level. Your physical body is just going to excrete the stuff anyway, mostly undigested; you're feeding off the release of the energy, and a little cut will work just as well. Again, the best way to get a lot of energy is if this is part of erotic play. If you practice SM fear may be very well part of desire - esp. if your donor is afraid of blades.

You can trace very fine lines on the back with a blade, and get a certain amount of blood to rise to the surface in the form of bleeding welts. I did this once with a pair of sewing scissors. Don't dig any deeper if this is what you are doing.

Avoid vital organ areas.

If you are trying to minimize pain, the best way is to get your donor to cut him/herself on the wrist (this is do-able without serious blood loss - I've done it myself, and avoided veins and arteries quite nicely). Or maybe the ankle. This will also minimize the fear. The best time for this is after coitus, when the body is still flooded with endorphins and your donor is relaxed. Hopefully not falling asleep. It makes for a very intimate, cuddly sort of feeding.

It is much better to use a sharp, fresh lancet, scalpel, or razor blade on an area of skin that isn't near any veins or arteries or internal organs. I cut on the back, the upper thigh, the chest, or (very occasionally and very carefully!) the hand or certain parts of the neck. Cutting deeply is unnecessary. What you are trying to do is cause the equivalent of a shaving nick. It doesn't hurt to accidentally cut yourself while shaving, does it? And you can get a lot of blood if you don't immediately stanch the flow. Making two small, shallow cuts in an X shape prevents the wound from closing immediately and allows you to get more blood from the wound, but it also increases scarring risk. Never make a circular cut, the skin in the middle of the circle might die once it has been cut off from normal blood flow, and fall off. Ick. (Ouch.) Most cuts of this nature close up in six minutes or so, although an X shaped cut sometimes stays open as long as fifteen or twenty minutes. Remember that you are only trying to get the equivalent of one mouthful of blood, at most. If you start to feel dizzy or queasy, stop drinking, because you have reached your limit.

(SphynxCat's note: Shoulders work nicely too, about halfway between the neck and the arm. And there's the added benefit of - usually, unless the collar is stretched out - having the marks covered by a t-shirt.)

JABBING

As in pins and needles. If you get into piercing at all, this is a great way to get little tiny amounts of blood. (Sometimes more, if you have hit a capillary) If you are a trained phlebotomist, then it is safe for you to use a syringe and needle to remove a small amount of blood from your donor's veins, but I discourage this unless you have actually been trained to do it. It's a painless technique, but it can backfire, and untrained practitioners can cause serious damage (a nasty hematoma being the least you can expect if something goes wrong!) (Great reason to take night school courses in medical assisting...)

The safest way for the amateur to get blood is with the use of a Soft Touch device (thanks for pointing this out to me, Tamazin! :)) It's how diabetics monitor their blood sugar. It's pretty idiot proof. I don't find them very erotic but they have their uses. Have first aid supplies handy (bandages/plasters, disinfectant). Use them after feeding. I don't use disinfectant before feeding because it tastes disgusting, and I am guilty of not always using it afterwards, and I haven't seen a wound get infected yet, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Be ready to use direct pressure, pressure points, or even a tourniquet if an accident happens (unlikely if you are avoiding veins and arteries). If you don't know the procedures for stopping a heavy blood flow, take a first aid course.

(SphynxCat's note: Vodka works as an emergency disinfectant if you've run out of legitimate disinfectant. But don't forget to get a real disinfectant as well.)

Vitamin E oil or lotion helps reduce the risk of scarring.

(SphynxCat's note: I can vouch for Vitamin E oil: 28,000IU strength is strong enough to get rid of my smallpox vaccine scar, and I got that scar over 25 years ago!)

WHIPPING

If you have a masochistic donor, great! Whipping is one of the best ways to get LOT AND LOTS of endorphins and energy release. You'll tire yourself out a little, but the energy will be more than replaced if the scene goes well. Discussion of whipping techniques, and ways to make an SM scene great, have taken up entire books, so I'll just restrict myself to how to draw blood. Use a rubber whip, or a braided cat with steel tips at the end, or possibly a cane or a really vicious crop. These are by far the nastiest of the common toys. Signal whips are also pretty efficient, and the sound of a signal whip usually inspires terror in the heart of even the stoutest of bottoms, so you'll get some adrenaline out of it too. (Signal whips were originally designed to motivate sled dogs. By making a really scary noise.)

You can either build the scene slowly, gradually increasing sensation, or you can start fast and nasty and get nastier. It is really up to you and the bottom. Both methods have their merits. The usual rule of courtesy is that the bottom has the right of veto, and can stop you at any time, so keep this in mind. You don't want to be a date rapist, after all. And whipping to the point of drawing blood HURTS. Most bottoms are not strong enough to find this erotic. It takes either a lot of natural endurance, or a lot of training, to get a bottom to endure a seriously severe whipping.

You will want to immobilize your bottom very well indeed, because s/her WILL fight to get away even if s/he really wants to be there; and you will almost certainly need a gag, preferably a ball gag although if you have nothing else you can make do with a wadded up handkerchief of scarf in the moth (do not cause your bottom to asphyxiate, and watch out for hyperventilation).

PICKING SCABS

This is gross. I am sure there are some people out there who do this. My only response to this is: yuck.

ANIMAL BLOOD

if you are a city dweller and you don't like the idea of bleeding your pets (I know I don't) your best bet is to eat really juicy rare steaks. Which are not always the best thing for your health, as there is a slight risk of food poisoning. Drinking the blood from the package is not only dangerous, it's also really gross. I don't recommend it. If you live in the country and can slaughter or drain your own livestock, more power to you. You can get a lot more blood this way, if you need volume, and you can be sure of where it came from, which has its health merits.

Hunting is an even better way to get lots of animal blood, and I personally think it is more ethical to hunt your dinner than it is to buy it from a factory farm.

I prefer human blood myself.

MENSTRUAL BLOOD

Some people get a thrill from it; I personally think it's yucky. It sometimes has a pleasant musky odor, but the texture is too gloppy and reminiscent of ectoplasm for my tastes; the actual taste is very pungent, and I find it unpleasant. Also, the energy is totally different. Usually it is all the negative stress that has been stored up for the past month - the nutrients in the uterine wall do not make up for the huge amount of PMS that is being shed. Yuck. Why bother. Do you know that menstruating women have been known to make souffles go flat and curdle milk, with their pheromones? My anthropology teacher bragged about her tendency to do this, in a classroom discussion. This should tell you something about the nature of the energy.

If you want something raw and sexual and intimate, why not just go for the fluids that are usually produced during oral sex? They have lots of energy in them too, although it isn't blood.

FEEDING ON YOUR OWN BLOOD

This a contradiction in terms. If you crave blood, not energy, you don't have much to lose, but you'll expend energy by cutting yourself. OTOH, if it's only blood you want, go for it. At least this way you are assured of a regular donor.

SAFE SEX

As for safer sex - for God's sake use a condom, and put gloves on if you are fisting your partner and have cuts on your hand. And use a barrier with oral sex if you have cuts in your mouth but still want to perform oral sex anyway. (Saran Wrap is much nicer than a dental dam - thinner, and it doesn't taste as yucky. It does NOT make a good condom, alas) Make sure your condom is latex, not sheepskin, and is lubricated with nonoxynol-9. During sex, don't just save the condom for when you are just starting to come (if you are male), as men are wont to do. Pre-cum has sperm in it too, and besides, if you have a sore on your "love rocket" it won't make any difference how close you are to coming if it comes in contact with infected vaginal fluid (of course, if you have a sore, what are you doing having sex? Go to the doctor! Sheesh!) All this you probably know.

OTHER SAFETY TIPS

As for other forms of sickness flu bugs, etc -

Don't feed from a partner who is sick. Not only will the energy be polluted (and weak) but your partner needs all the energy s/he has to get well. Let your partner heal up first. Feed your partner things that boost the immune system and general energy level: ginseng, garlic, ginger, goldenseal, Echinacea, damiana, cayenne pepper.

(Hopefully your partner's chicken soup is not spiked with all of these things at once. Yech!)

Don't feed while YOU are sick. You might spread your germs, and besides, you'll spend more energy feeding than you will recover while eating.

Physical Risks

Donor Blood: Blood procured from another human being via a wound either made or already existing on the body.

To the donor is the obvious risk of the wound, if not cleaned properly before and after drinking it can easily become infected. The human mouth is far from the cleanest thing on this planet. The bacteria can cause abscesses (pus filled pockets) at the least and motor paralysis at the other extreme if the cut is close to a nerve that becomes infected. This can be avoided somewhat by cleaning the wound very well before and after drinking with some isopropyl alcohol, bactine disinfectant and a little hydrogen peroxide. The wound should also be treated against scarring (Vitamin E creams help this somewhat) and bandaged for at least a day to keep out infection. Even all of this, though, is not a foolproof preventative.

Also to the donor is the risk of cutting at the wrong point. A person inexperienced in physiology can cut wrong sever a nerve or major vessel in no time flat. Nerves do not regenerate and thus, once severed, can cause paralysis, loss of feeling and eventually a possible loss of limb. Major blood vessels are large enough that they do not quickly clot. Yes, you will have more blood then you (the drinker) know what to do with, but your donor will also be at great risk for bleeding to death... try explaining THAT to the ER nurse.

To the drinker is the risk of drinking too much (yes, this can be done). This can result in Iron overdose, (possibly) Toxic Porphyria, and bloody stools. Moderation should always be the key. You may want to drink two or three times a week, but it is far better to limit yourself to what you need. This cuts back on all the above-mentioned problems to you and your donor.

Though possibly falling somewhat under blood-borne disease, it is probably better mentioned here. That of the risk of drug interactions through your donor's blood. In a world where everything is treated by a medication, chances are pretty good that at some point your donor will be taking a medication, or possibly even an illegal drug. Both of these drugs can cause allergic reactions in people. "But, I (the drinker) am not taking the drug, my donor is" you might argue... in blood you are getting whatever it is that your donor is taking. Medications and drugs do not just magically appear to the area where they are needed, they circulate in the body for extended periods of time. If you have never had contact with these medications or drugs, you may not know you have allergies until it is too late. Penicillin reactions can, and do, result in death, and that is just a single drug. One must also take into account drug interactions if both you and your donor are taking medications. People in general are seldom aware of the possibility of one drug interacting with another in the body, usually with adverse effects. Illegal/legal drug interactions can cause this same adverse reaction, often with even greater irregularity due to the inconsistency of illegal drugs. Drug interactions can result in anything from minor stomach upset to death. Obvious a very great risk, and one that is not always completely avoidable.

Menstrual Blood: Blood from a menstruating woman.

This method does mostly eliminate the hazard of creating a wound, but the possibility of infection is still present because of the unclean and bacteria ridden nature of the human mouth. To the donor it can result in pyrometriosis... a rather nasty, smelly, and painful infection of the uterus which results in it being filled with infected pus.

Treatable through leutalyse injection (causes contraction of the uterus and expulsion of the infection with side effects of nausea and diarrhea. Not all people respond to the injections either so, more commonly, hysterectomy is the recommended treatment. Neither treatment falls under the category of "cheap, easy, and painless". The disease also often causes future infertility. Infection of the cervix, oviducts, and all other parts of the reproductive and, actually, this can extend to the bladder and kidneys as well. Sound disgusting? You bet, but it is a very real risk. Cervical and uterine infections both increase the risk of future uterine or cervical cancer as well.

There are also some STDs while not blood-borne, can become problems for the drinker when taking drink in this method. To mind first comes Herpes, which if infected to the mouth can cause infectious cold sores. Also Candidia (a type of yeast) while normally present near the female reproductive tract is not a common oral bacteria and can cause the tongue to swell and a white growth in the mouth. Candidia is a curable infection, Herpes as yet is not. Other STDs are also a risk, but are discussed more on the Blood-Borne Disease page. And here is a rather nasty one I bet you had not considered... worms. Hookworms, flatworms, heartworms and other such parasites are everywhere. Usually we don't think of it because of the nice, clean, sterile world around us but they are still a present part in our society. Often traveling fecal-oral routs... and, nasty but true, if you are drinking menstrual blood, you are very near the anus where eggs of these parasites can be found. All can cause digestive problems in the least, and heartworms live in the blood vessels, choking the heart eventually causing death if not noticed and treated.

Slaughter House Blood: Blood procured from the slaughter of food animals. First of all, in some states it is illegal for the butcher to sell blood for consumption. That right there should clue you in that it is not a particularly safe practice. Even domestic animals can carry cross-species infectious disease as well as the risk of those diseases often associated with spoiled food (such as salmonella). If the slaughter process is sloppy, partially digested animal foodstuffs can contaminate the blood. This partially digested food is just loaded with bacteria, some of which our body has no clue how to work with. The meat can be rinsed and washed of these bacteria but one cannot do the same with the blood. Along similar lines is the risk of a sloppy slaughter resulting in prion contamination of the blood. Prions are infectious proteins that cause "Mad-Cow Disease" among others... Kuru, Krutsfield-Jackob (more genetic), Scrapie (in sheep) and a multitude of wasting diseases. Generally, the protein only resides in neuronal tissue (brain, spinal cord, etc) but sloppy butchering can cause contamination. The prion its self causes mutation of the bodies natural brain proteins to a non-digestible form. The proteins build up in the cells and causes lysis (breakage) and cell death. This eventually leads to "spongioform encephalopathy" (spongy brain) where you brain is riddled with holes and you begin to mentally degenerate. Not pleasant.

Mental Risks

These are risks that while not physically showable, often arise, ethically, religiously, or morally. In general, drinking blood is hard on the mind. It's not a "normal human" thing to do. It can cause depression from loneliness, ostricization by friends, loss of loved ones, mental anguish at the pain caused to others (either physically or emotionally), and an "outsider" feeling. For some, this isn't a big deal. Some are more loners by nature then others, but for a majority we need companionship and friends we can talk to and relate with. Ethically, we often find ourselves look at "is it right" or "is there a true justification behind what I am doing". These are questions you have to answer for yourself, and not easy ones either. You alone can make that decision for you. Other situations will come up in your life where there may be no right answer, where you have to weigh options... this is normal, welcome to real life. For us though we wind up often in much larger holes. Can you deal with the guilt of looking at a friend bleeding and thinking of drinking before you think of helping? Can your mind survive having to realize day in and day out that no matter how big a crowd you are in, you are most likely alone? Sometimes it is better to be human, and be like everyone else... "{Vampire} I want to learn how to turn a human into a vampire {Response by human} only if you will teach me to turn a vampire into a human." (From Sanguinarius's Vampiric Community Board) It's a one-way street, people, once you are here, you can't go back. It is much better for you to simply look down the road, and then walk on...

I really hope that this has been enough information for you to learn from. There are plenty of sites, besides the ones I have listed here, which have information that you can find on blood safety tips. Remember these things as you go on out into the night! AndSafe Feeding!