An autologous stem cell transplant uses healthy blood stem cells from a person's own body to replace bone marrow that's not working well. An autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) also is called an autologous bone marrow transplant and an autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
Using your own cells for stem cell transplant has some benefits over using stem cells from a donor. If you use stem cells from a donor, called an allogeneic stem cell transplant, the donor cells must be a close match to yours. That's not an issue with an autologous stem cell transplant because the cells come from you.
You may be able to have an autologous stem cell transplant if your body makes enough healthy bone marrow cells. After the stem cells are collected, the cells may be frozen and stored until needed.