Stem cell harvesting is considered to be the latest revolution in the field of medical technology. It is considered of having the potential to change the treatment of human diseases and reduce the suffering people face when they have a disease. But like everything else, stem cell harvesting also has certain disadvantages to it. Let’s take a look at them.

Stem cell treatments are an unproven commodity

At the current phase of research, the treatments developed from stem cells are experimental and there is a better chance of nothing ultimately coming out of it. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCtx) is the most effective therapy right now, with about 50,000 transplants occurring per year.

Stem cell research is a costly process

In the United States, the cost of a single stem cell treatment that has been approved for use is typically about $10,000 and as high as $100,000 outside of it. Harvesting an embryo for stem cells can cost up to $2,000 per instance. Owing to its costly nature, health insurance plans and government-provided benefits do not generally provide access to them.

We do not know if there are long-term side effects to worry about

While many people are receiving stem cell treatments are responding positively to it, we still don’t know if there are long-term consequences to such therapies. The results of more than 3,500 different research studies determine the effectiveness of stem cell research and therapies happening right now are still pending.

While the future potential of these treatments continues to inspire hope for many, the proven benefits of stem cell research are somewhat limited according to current science. The ethical questions may begin to fade as the processes to develop adult stem cells into programmable cells. Each key point must be considered before a final conclusion can be reached until then.