When healthy people donate one of their kidneys for transplant, they give others a much-needed second chance at life. Mayo Clinic experts are helping to dispel some of the most common myths surrounding living kidney donation.
Megan Barrowclough donated a kidney to her childhood best friend Regina Bence at Mayo Clinic.
“For people with kidney failure, receiving a kidney from a living donor is the best possible option. When healthy people donate a kidney, they give someone a second chance. This helps kidney recipients get transplanted faster and enjoy a healthier life,” says Carrie Jadlowiec, M.D., a transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix.
1. Myth: Living kidney donors need to be in perfect health.
While it is important for kidney donors to generally be in good health, there is no expectation that donors be in perfect health. For example, some potential donors with controlled high blood pressure or type 2 diabetes are eligible to be donors. All potential donors need to be at least 18 and undergo a rigorous medical and psychological evaluation to make sure they are a good candidate to donate. At Mayo Clinic, those evaluations can be completed in a single day.
2. Myth: Anyone over age 50 can’t be a living donor.
Many people over 50 are living donors.
“We accept donors starting at age 18. There is no upper age limit for someone to be a kidney donor. We do a comprehensive assessment on all potential donors, regardless of their age, to make sure they are an appropriate candidate,” says Ty Diwan, M.D., a transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
3. Myth: You must be related to someone to be a match.
Anyone can be a living kidney donor. You can consider donating a kidney to a relative, friend, acquaintance or anonymously to someone on the waiting list. Sometimes a potential donor who wants to give to a family member or a friend isn’t an optimal match for that recipient. In those situations, paired donation is considered. Donors and recipients are matched with other donors and recipients, creating what is known as a kidney chain. People without a specific recipient in mind can also choose to donate to a stranger via nondirected donation.
4. Myth: Kidney donors can’t live an active lifestyle after donation.
In most cases, kidney donors can return to normal activities four to six weeks after surgery. Most donors undergo a laparoscopic procedure that involves making a few small incisions instead of a larger one. In some cases, minimally robotic surgery is also an option. Both types of surgery reduce recovery time. Many donors return to their pre-donation hobbies such as running, biking and swimming. As with any surgery, there are risks, and it is important for potential donors to discuss those with their healthcare team.
5. Myth: Donating a kidney shortens your lifespan.
Multiple studies have shown that donating a kidney does not shorten one’s lifespan. In fact, kidney donors tend to live longer than the general population.
“Kidney donors undergo rigorous screening prior to donation, and those accepted as donors are often healthier than the general population at baseline. These individuals often continue to live healthy lifestyles post-donation, which can lead to a longer lifespan,” says Shennen Mao, M.D., a transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.