Myths & Facts about Bone Marrow Donation

Here are some Myths and Facts about donating Blood Stem cells so you can be informed about the process!

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FACT: It is not as painful as you might think.

Many people belive that donating blood stem cells is painful, when it really isn’t.

  • Discomfort varies from person to person and some of the side effects may incude back pain, fatigue, headaches or bruising for a few days/weeks

  • The vast majority of donors ay it was worth it to help save a life and they would do it again

FACT: There are very few risks to donating

There is a common misconception that donating blood stem cells is dangerous. There are actually very few risks to donating blood stem cells.

  • All donors are carefully prescreened to ensure that they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them.

  • There are rarely any long term side effects from donating either blood stem cells or marrow. The donors immune system will actually stay strong and their blood stem cells will replenish themselves within 4-6 weeks

  • Because only 1-5% (or less) of your marrow is needed to save a patient’s life, your immune system stays strong

  • While no medical procedure is completely risk free, every precaution is taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the donor

Fact: It doesn’t take long to save someones life

It is actually a myth that the donation process takes a long time!

  • Registration only takes a few minutes

  • The donation process is spread out over a 4-6 weeks process and can include things like phone calls, appointments and the donation itself

Myth: Members of the LGBTQ+ community cannot join the registry and donate

This is not true! Members of the LGBTQ+ community can actually register and donate blood stem cells.

  • For medical reasons, transsexual and non-binary individuals are asked to provide their sex assigned at birth when they regsiter. Should you be called as a match, pronouns and gender identity are respected throughout the process

  • Prescription hormone therapy does NOT exclude someone from joining the regsitry. The specifics of your health are discussed at the time of your donation with your doctors, should you be called as a potential match

Fact: Ethnic Background is an important factor for matching donors and patients

Patients are more likely to match with someone of the same ethnic background. That is because genetic type is inherited.

  • Adding more registry members who increase the ethnic diversity of the registry increases the variety of tissue types available. Therefore helping more people find the match they need

Fact: Age Guidelines protect the safety of the donor

Age guidelines in fact protect the safety of the donor and provide the best possible outcome for they patient. They are not meant to discriminate.

  • Donors between the ages of 18-44 provide the greatest chance for transplant success

  • Doctors request donors in the 18-44 age group 86% of the time

FACT: There are very few risks to donating

There is a common misconception that donating blood stem cells is dangerous. There are actually very few risks to donating blood stem cells.

  • All donors are carefully prescreened to ensure that they are healthy and the procedure is safe for them.

  • There are rarely any long term side effects from donating either blood stem cells or marrow. The donors immune system will actually stay strong and their blood stem cells will replenish themselves within 4-6 weeks

  • Because only 1-5% (or less) of your marrow is needed to save a patient’s life, your immune system stays strong

  • While no medical procedure is completely risk free, every precaution is taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the donor

Fact: It doesn’t take long to save someones life

It is actually a myth that the donation process takes a long time!

  • Registration only takes a few minutes

  • The donation process is spread out over a 4-6 weeks process and can include things like phone calls, appointments and the donation itself

Myth: Members of the LGBTQ+ community cannot join the registry and donate

This is not true! Members of the LGBTQ+ community can actually register and donate blood stem cells.

  • For medical reasons, transsexual and non-binary individuals are asked to provide their sex assigned at birth when they regsiter. Should you be called as a match, pronouns and gender identity are respected throughout the process

  • Prescription hormone therapy does NOT exclude someone from joining the regsitry. The specifics of your health are discussed at the time of your donation with your doctors, should you be called as a potential match

Fact: Ethnic Background is an important factor for matching donors and patients

Patients are more likely to match with someone of the same ethnic background. That is because genetic type is inherited.

  • Adding more registry members who increase the ethnic diversity of the registry increases the variety of tissue types available. Therefore helping more people find the match they need

Fact: Age Guidelines protect the safety of the donor

Age guidelines in fact protect the safety of the donor and provide the best possible outcome for they patient. They are not meant to discriminate.

  • Donors between the ages of 18-44 provide the greatest chance for transplant success

  • Doctors request donors in the 18-44 age group 86% of the time

Australian Marrow Match