Is it necessary to preserve umbilical cord blood?
Disease description:
I'm pregnant, and I recently heard about the service of preserving umbilical cord blood. I'm somewhat conflicted about whether I should store it. May I ask what exactly is the use of umbilical cord blood? Is it really necessary to preserve it?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Feng
Whether it is necessary to preserve umbilical cord blood mainly depends on personal preference and family circumstances.
The advantage of preserving umbilical cord blood lies in its potential for autologous transplantation for the child or other family members, thereby reducing the risk of rejection. Additionally, with advances in medical research, the future applications of umbilical cord blood stem cells may become even broader.
However, preserving umbilical cord blood involves certain costs. Typically, storage for ten years ranges from 15,000 to 20,000 yuan, while storage for 20 years costs approximately 30,000 yuan. Furthermore, umbilical cord blood must be collected and stored by professional institutions to ensure its quality and safety.
At the same time, the chance of needing an autologous transplant is relatively low. In most cases, the cord blood is more likely to be used for matching transplants among other family members or unrelated individuals. The decision to preserve umbilical cord blood should be made after comprehensive consideration of factors such as family financial status, family medical history, and personal health risk assessments.
It is recommended to consult a professional physician before the child's birth to obtain detailed information and make an informed decision.
