According to The Mayo Clinic, individuals who donate bone marrow undergo a brief operation in which the bone marrow is harvested from the pelvic bones. The National Marrow Donor Program has set forth specific guidelines to indicate who is eligible to become a bone marrow donor.
Age
To become a bone marrow donor, you need to be between the ages of 18 and 60. If you are under 18, your guardian or parent cannot sign a release form or give consent due to the voluntary nature of this procedure.
AIDS/HIV and Hepatitis
A diagnosis of HIV (AIDS) precludes you from becoming a bone marrow donor, according to the guidelines. Additionally, individuals who have been diagnosed or are carriers of hepatitis B or C are not permitted to donate bone marrow. If you have had intimate or close contact with someone in the last year who has an active hepatitis B or C infection but do not have the infection, you are eligible to donate bone marrow according to the National Marrow Donor Program medical guidelines. Additionally, if you have fully recovered from a hepatitis A infection, you are also able to serve as a bone marrow donor.
Autoimmune Diseases
If you have an autoimmune disease such as chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis or systemic lupus, you are not able to donate bone marrow, according to the guidelines. Individuals who have been treated for conditions such as Graves' disease or Hashimoto's disease may be eligible to become a bone marrow donor assuming your disease state is medically stable.
Bleeding Problems
Individuals with bleeding problems, such as Factor V Leiden, Von Willebrand's Disease or hemophilia, you are not eligible to become a bone marrow donor. Factor V Leiden is an inherited blood-clotting disorder that causes your blood to clot more frequently than necessary, which can cause life-threatening blood clots to form in your body. Von Willebrand's Disease and hemophilia are disorders characterized by the inability to form blood clots, which can cause severe bleeding problems even after minor injuries.
Breathing Problems
Serious breathing problems such as emphysema, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or cystic fibrosis precludes you from becoming a bone marrow donor. Individuals with asthma may be eligible depending upon an evaluation of medical history.
Heart Disease and Weight
Individuals with heart disease are not eligible to become a bone marrow donor. Heart disease includes a history of heart attack, bypass surgery, heart valve replacement surgery, angioplasty or pacemaker placement. If you have a heart condition such as arrhythmia or mitral valve prolapsed, you may be eligible to become a donor depending on a medical history evaluation. Individuals who are interested in becoming donors must have a body mass index (BMI) below 40. For a man who is 6 feet tall, this means that he cannot weigh more than 295 lbs.
Kidney or Liver Disease
If you have serious kidney or liver disease, you cannot become a bone marrow donor. This includes diseases such as polycystic kidney disease and liver cirrhosis. However, if you have been a kidney donor in the past and have fully recovered you are able to donate bone marrow.
