What is the life expectancy of someone who donates a kidney?

Donating a kidney does not affect a person’s life expectancy. On the contrary, studies show that people who donate a kidney outlive the average population. Twenty years after donating, 85 percent of kidney donors were still alive, while the expected survival rate was 66 percent.

Does your life shorten if you donate a kidney?

Living donation does not change life expectancy, and does not appear to increase the risk of kidney failure. In general, most people with a single normal kidney have few or no problems; however, you should always talk to your transplant team about the risks involved in donation.

Is donating a kidney major surgery?

For the kidney recipient, the risk of transplant surgery is usually low because it is a potentially lifesaving procedure. But kidney donation surgery can expose a healthy person to the risk of and recovery from unnecessary major surgery. Immediate, surgery-related risks of donor nephrectomy include: Pain.

Can a kidney grow back?

It was thought that kidney cells didn’t reproduce much once the organ was fully formed, but new research shows that the kidneys are regenerating and repairing themselves throughout life. Contrary to long-held beliefs, a new study shows that kidneys have the capacity to regenerate themselves.

What would prevent me from donating a kidney?

As a general rule, you should be 18 years or older . You must also have normal kidney function . There are some medical conditions that could prevent you from being a living donor . These include having uncontrolled high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, HIV, hepatitis, or acute infections .

Has anyone ever died after donating a kidney?

According to OPTN reports for 51,113 living kidney donors in 1998–2008, 14 donor deaths (2.7 per 10,000) were reported by centers to the OPTN or identified in the SSDMF, and 39 donors (7.6 per 10,000) died within 12 months after donation.

What really happens after you donate a kidney?

As long as the donor is evaluated thoroughly and cleared for donation, he or she can lead a normal life after the surgery. When the kidney is removed, the single normal kidney will increase in size to compensate for the loss of the donated kidney. Physical exercise is healthy and good for you.

How long is recovery from donating a kidney?

The length of stay in the hospital will vary depending on the individual donor’s rate of recovery and the type of procedure performed (traditional vs laparoscopic kidney removal) although the usual stay is 4 to 6 days.

Will donating a kidney affect my life span?

Although kidney donation does not appear to impact life expectancy, research indicates that donating a kidney increases the risk of kidney failure over the donor’s lifetime.

Could donating a kidney Put Your Life Insurance at risk?

In some cases, having been a kidney donor can impact the donor’s ability to obtain both health insurance and life insurance. Therefore, it is highly recommended that people considering donation obtain these types of insurance prior to becoming a donor.