Can You Sell Your Placenta?

Legal Restrictions on Selling Placentas

In the United States, selling your placenta—or any other body part for that matter—is illegal. The National Organ Transplantation Act (NOTA) prohibits the sale of human organs, including placentas. The act defines a "human organ" as any part of the human body, which extends to subparts such as tissues, cells, and even placentas. This makes it clear that no matter the potential uses of a placenta, selling it for profit is strictly off-limits.

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Most hospitals also consider placentas to be a form of medical waste which falls under the category of bio hazardous disposal laws. According to  Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  regulations, placentas must be kept and discarded in biohazard containers. But there are cases in which hospitals may permit parents to take their placenta home for personal use, such as in some states with laws permitting placenta release post-delivery.

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Why Do People Think They Can Sell Their Placenta?

The misconception that placentas can be sold often stems from stories about hospitals or companies using placentas for research, cosmetics, or pharmaceuticals. For instance, some of the hospitals in the UK have been reported to remove placentas from mothers willing to give them to raise money for laboratories through protein extraction. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that this is limited to some countries and, in these instances, placentas are not ‘purchased’ as in a clinician’s office. Women will sign the consent forms, and the women might get a small amount of donation for the purpose of research.

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Furthermore, the customary practices involving placentas in different societies, such as burial or consumption, also support the belief in the importance of placentas. . For example, several societies consider the placenta a sacred organ that symbolizes the bond of mother, child and also nature.

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Placenta Encapsulation and CDC Guidelines

One popular trend surrounding placentas is encapsulation. Encapsulation is a common practice where placentas are dried, powdered, and made into capsules for ingestion. Despite mothers citing benefits like better postpartum recovery and improved mood, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have advised against the practice. The CDC points out that encapsulation may carry health risks, as fetal tissue encapsulated in placenta is likely to contain pathogenic bacterial infection. In one of the cases, a baby was reported to have a bacterial infection after the mother consumed placenta capsules, which were contaminated with bacteria. Thus, the CDC suggests steering clear of placenta encapsulation because of these possible dangers.

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Alternatives to Selling or Encapsulating Your Placenta

While having your placenta sold away or encapsulated may not be the best option, it is important to note that there are other useful purposes of your placenta, especially when it comes to the preservation of stem cells. One emerging trend is cord blood banking, which involves the collection, processing, and storage of cord blood stem cells from the placenta for potential medical use. Companies such as Anja Health provide services that enable parents to freeze and preserve stem cells, which can be helpful in the management of relevant diseases or conditions  down the line.

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Stem cells from the placenta and umbilical cord have regenerative properties and can be used in the treatment of blood disorders, immune deficiencies, and even certain cancers. By freezing and storing these cells, parents are essentially making an investment in their child’s future health. It’s a much safer and scientifically backed option compared to placenta encapsulation.

Conclusion

In summary, no, you cannot legally sell your placenta in the U.S. due to federal regulations. Although hospitals and research facilities may use placentas for research purposes, the sale of these organs is prohibited. Placenta encapsulation is also discouraged by the CDC due to health risks.

If you are seeking a clinical useful and evidence based treatment for your placenta, think of cord blood banking with a company like Anja Health. Preservation of your baby’s stem cells by this procedure promises hope of preventing or curing several diseases in future.

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Sources:

• National Organ Transplantation Act of 1984 (NOTA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Warning on Placenta Encapsulation
• Can You Sell Your Baby’s Placenta? by Terri Tibbot MS CTBS and Gia Frazier MS CTBS, Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation
• Placenta Tales by Mary E Black
• Sigma-Aldrich Placenta Research Program