What Happens to Your Body When You Donate Stem Cells.

If you’re thinking about signing up to donate stem cells, you’ve probably wondered: what does it do to my body?

This post explains it clearly and honestly. It focuses mostly on Peripheral Blood Stem Cell donation, as that’s how most donations happen in Australia. There’s also a short section on bone marrow donation, which is less common.

The short version is simple. For most people, donating stem cells feels like a long plasma donation. You might feel tired or achy for a short time. Your body replaces the stem cells you donate, usually within a few weeks.

What happens to your body before donation

GCSF injections (PBSC donors only)

Before donation, PBSC donors receive a daily injection of something called GCSF for four days. This medication encourages your body to make more blood stem cells and release them into your bloodstream so they can be collected.

How it might feel

GCSF is safe and widely used, but your body’s working harder than usual. Some people notice:

Aches in your lower back, hips, legs or shoulders
Headaches or tiredness
Mild flu-like symptoms
Trouble sleeping

Not everyone feels these effects, and for most people they’re mild and temporary.

What happens during donation

PBSC donation is the most common type

On donation day, you’ll be in a hospital or donation centre. You’ll be connected to an apheresis machine. Blood flows out through one arm, the machine separates out the stem cells, and the rest of your blood returns through the other arm.

You’ll have a soft plastic tube called a cannula in each arm rather than a solid needle. This means you can move a little and stay comfortable. Most donors spend the time watching shows, chatting, listening to music or sleeping.

The process usually takes four to five hours. A trained medical team supports you the entire time and keeps a close eye on how you’re feeling.

What happens after donation

How you might feel

After donation, most people feel tired or slightly achy for a day or two. Some donors notice bruising or soreness in their arms where the cannulas were placed. If you had GCSF injections, you might still feel mild muscle or bone aches, especially in the lower back or legs.

Simple pain relief such as paracetamol is usually enough. Most donors are back to normal activities within a day or two.

What your body does next

After you donate, your body naturally replaces the stem cells you gave. This usually takes a few weeks and happens without you needing to do anything.

Your body’s constantly producing new blood and immune cells. Donating stem cells doesn’t weaken your immune system. It simply prompts your body to replenish what it’s shared.

Bone marrow donation

Bone marrow donation is far less common. Fewer than ten percent of donors donate this way. Doctors usually recommend it when the patient is a baby or small child, or when bone marrow stem cells offer the best outcome.

If you’re asked to donate this way, doctors collect stem cells from the hip bone while you’re under a general anaesthetic. The procedure takes about forty five minutes and you won’t feel anything during it.

Most donors describe a bruised or sore feeling around the hips afterwards. This usually settles over one to two weeks.

Doctors recommend the method that’s best for the patient, but the final choice is always yours.

No matter how you donate, you could be the reason someone with blood cancer gets a second chance at life.

Thinking about signing up?

If you’re aged 18 to 35 and generally healthy, you can sign up online in just a few minutes. A cheek swab kit will be mailed to your home. For many people it sits on the bench for a while until they remember they’re a legend and send it back.

One day, you might be the match someone’s waiting for.

You can learn more and sign up here: https://stemcelldonors.org.au/about/partners/tlr-foundation/