Donating bone marrowcan have side effects and risks, but in general, its considered safe.
This article looks at the risks and side effects of bone marrow donation.
It also covers what you could expect when you’ve chosen to donate your bone marrow andstem cells.
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What Is Bone Marrow Donation?
Your bone marrow has special cells inside it that make blood.
You have to meet certain requirements to be a bone marrow donor.
you could talk to your provider if youre not sure if youre able to donate bone marrow.
What if I Have a Chronic Condition That is Well-Controlled?
Having a chronic condition does not necessarily prevent you from joining the bone marrow donor registry.
Process
Bone marrow donation happens in a hospital.
You are given anesthesia to be put to sleep and taken to the operating room.
The surgeon will use a needle to take bone marrow out of your hip (pelvic) bones.
The procedure itself does not take long, but you will need some time to recover.
After you donate bone marrow, you might have pain or feel more tired than usual.
Usually, you might go back to your normal routine in about a week.
What Are the Risks of Donating Bone Marrow?
Risks related to donating bone marrow are mostly related to the risk of the surgical procedure.
Bone marrow is “harvested” using a needle, which is inserted into your hip.
Does Donating Bone Marrow Hurt?
You should not feel any pain during the procedure because youll be under anesthesia.
Whats the Risk to the Bone Marrow Transplant Recipient?
You may also be sore in the region of your hip for a week or slightly more.
Of the 12,000 stem cell donations that take place each year and few adverse events are reported.
For example, in 2014 there were only nine reports of adverse events after bone marrow donation.
What Are the Benefits of Donating Bone Marrow?
When you become a bone marrow donor, youve taken a step that could save someones life.
That said, dont feel like you cant help someone if youre not able to donate bone marrow.
Whats the Recovery Process Like?
The procedure may be done as an outpatient, or you may spend a few days in the hospital.
On average, people feel completely back to “normal” in 20 days.
Can You Meet the Recipient?
Summary
Like all surgical procedures, there are some risks to donating bone marrow.
Other side effects of bone marrow donation include soreness at the site of the procedure and fatigue.
When considering any issue, it’s important to weigh the risks against the benefits.
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