Stem Cell Therapy side effects, can it be dangerous? There’s a lot of information going around about Stem Cell Treatments right now.
Just like any other medical treatment, stem cell therapy isn’t without its risks.
For Stem Cell Treatments, clinics are mainly using Mesenchymal Stem Cells, so in this article, we’ll explore the potential side effects of these cells specifically.
For Blood disorders, Hematopoietic (Bone Marrow) Stem Cell Transplantations are commonly used around the world but we have a separate article for that.
Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells & Embryonic Stem Cells aren’t used in mainstream clinics for treatment, so we won’t touch on those here.
If you want to know more about the cost of Stem Cell Therapy, our guide on Stem Cell treatment costs globally might be interesting!
What are the side effects of Stem Cell Therapy
According to a scientific review published in 2022, the most common side effects of getting Stem Cell therapy are fever and local pain/swelling at the injection site.
Though they are less common, more serious side effects can include the formation of blood clots and unwanted internal scar tissue.
Other Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy Side Effects
Major risks come from getting treatment from clinics following bad practice. If you’re going to a clinic that’s not culturing their cells properly or has a poor quality lab, you’re taking huge risks.
When cells are grown too many times (a passage number greater than 9), they can develop genetic mistakes or abnormalities. In rare cases, these changes can make the cells behave like tumor cells.
However most clinics normally won’t got above a passage number greater then 4.
The lab must be incredibly clean. If not, there’s a small risk that germs like viruses or mycoplasma could get into the cell cultures. This could potentially be passed on to you. This is why checking if a clinic has a lab that’s GMP compliant or has certain ISO certifications is so important.
Risks of going abroad for Stem Cell Therapy
Of course, there are huge risks when going abroad for Stem Cell Therapy, especially if you’re going to countries that don’t have strong regulations.
If anything does go wrong, typically there’s nothing you can really do about it. It will be difficult to get money back or even sue the clinic.
Risks include:
- Little to no follow up. Once you’re back home, if there’s any issues it’s tough to get it sorted. Often clinics will just ignore you.
- No Laws to protect you if anything goes wrong
- Difficult to tell the quality standards they’re following. This is a big one as you’ve read above and where most of the dangers lie
- Medical or Travel insurance won’t cover experimental treatments like Stem Cell Therapy.
This is why we take the vetting of our clinics so seriously. We know what can go wrong & want to help protect people like you against these issues.
We support you pre & post journey, so if anything does go wrong, we’re here to make sure you get the help you need. You’ll have a dedicated personal concierge to help you every step of the way, for free.
Can Mesenchymal Stem Cells Cause Cancers
In theory, if you have cancer or are at risk of getting cancer, getting Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy could potentially help tumors grow. How? We break it down below:
- Tumors need a blood supply to get nutrients and grow, just like any other part of the body. MSCs can release substances that encourage the formation of new blood vessels. While this is helpful for healing injuries, it could also help a tumor build its own blood supply, which would help it grow
- Your immune system’s job is to attack and destroy abnormal cells, including cancer cells. MSCs are known to calm down or suppress the immune system. This is useful in some situations, like preventing the rejection of a transplant, but it could also weaken the immune system’s ability to fight off a tumor
Now in most studies & treatments done in the last 10 years, there hasn’t been a public case of tumors forming with Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy. But it is something to be aware of, especially if you’ve had cancer before or are at risk of it.
The review above suggested keeping passage numbers below 9, do PCR Testing for mycoplasma and herpesviruses, check patients full medical history before treatment and that minimally manipulated, fresh cells are safer than pre-cultured cells.
Best Stem Cell Therapy clinics we’ve Vetted
We don’t let any clinic just sign up or pay to be listed.
We speak to every clinic directly and review their medical team, the treatments they offer, how their stem cells are sourced and how they follow up with patients after treatment.
We also review licensing documents to confirm they meet the legal and medical standards of the country they operate in. For example, whether cells are processed in a GMP-certified facility or if they provide documentation on stem cell quality.
Clinics must also agree to let us collect and publish independent patient reviews. Both positive and negative.
Why Use Alt Treatment?
We don’t just list clinics, we help you choose the right one, get the best pricing and support you through the entire journey. For free.
Compare with Confidence: Get clinic matches based on your condition, location, and budget.
Ask the Right Questions: Know what to ask before committing
Save on Treatment: Unlock exclusive discounts on vetted clinics and follow-up care.
We’re With You After Treatment: We check in post-treatment and help resolve any issues.
Travel & Visa Help: Need to travel for care? We can help with logistics, documents, and local tips.
Found a Clinic Elsewhere? We’ll check their licensing and track record for you, free of charge.
No Strings Attached: Even if you choose a clinic we don’t partner with, we’re still here to help you make the best decision.
View Top Stem Cell Therapy Clinics Globally
We’ve personally vetted Stem Cell Therapy clinics all over the world. With clinics covering Japan, South Korea, Colombia & more, you’re able to explore and compare clinics at your own pace.
View ClinicsLong-Term Side Effects Of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Treatment
Whilst most studies track patients between 1 & 5 years, we don’t know what happens after 5, 10, or 20 years. Add on the fact that most clinics don’t follow up with their patients either, it’s difficult to collate this data.
One of the things we’re doing at Alt Treatment is collecting all data post treatment on patients that go through our platform. We’re aiming to keep in touch & collect as much data as possible to help us really identify what’s working & what happens later down the line.
Is Stem Cell Therapy worth the money?
Maybe. One of the biggest risks you’re taking with Stem Cell Therapy is spending $5,000 – $40,000 on treatment and getting no results.
It’s still experimental & the fact there’s so many poor clinics out there with little regard for patient safety or welfare, there’s a huge risk you could be wasting your money.
That’s why we put so much effort into vetting the clinics we’re working with, both when we sign them up on our platform, but also after every one of our patients that gets treatment with them.
If you are spending a huge amount of money on your health, we want to give you the best chance possible of getting results.
Is Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy safe or not?
If you look at most of the research that’s been done on MSC Stem Cell Treatment, adverse events have been extremely low.
However, that’s not to say there’s no side effects or risks when it comes to getting Stem cell treatment.
If you’re going to a poor clinic, with a low quality lab it can be quite dangerous. And if you have cancer or at risk of it, in theory there’s a risk of it growing your current tumors.
But most of the data right now is saying for the short term at least, it seems to be safe.
If you’re deciding which country is best for you, or want to talk about clinics we’ve already vetted, fill out our form below. Our team will guide you with clear, honest answers.
Alt Treatment is a free, independent platform that helps you understand stem cell therapy & decide if it’s right for you.
We break down complex information into clear, honest guidance. When you’re ready, we can connect you with verified clinics that meet your needs, in the right location & often with exclusive discounts.
There’s no charge to use our platform. No hidden fees. No pressure. Our main aim is to genuinely help you figure out if treatment is right & the best places to consider.
If you want to talk, fill out our form below & our personal concierge team will reach out.
Potentially! From recent trials, roughly 60-80% of patients see results from Stem Cell Treatment. For Cartistem treatment, 97.7% of treated patients showed visible improvement in cartilage in a study following patients for 5 years. To read more about how Stem Cells, check out our Knee article.
For other conditions, take a look at our Areas of Treatment section. We have articles covering how Stem Cells work for different conditions.
India, along with Thailand are the least expensive countries for Stem Cell Treatments. However, cheaper doesn’t always mean better! Here’s our India Cost Guide & our Thailand Cost Guide.
We’ve put together a list of questions you should ask every stem cell clinic before you decide on getting treatment. Click here to read the full checklist.
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