Living kidney donation offers a second chance at life for someone battling kidney failure. Donating a kidney is safe for most healthy individuals, and the impact is lifelong.
To ensure safety for both the donor and recipient, evaluations include:
Living kidney donors can live long, healthy lives with one kidney. Donation often leads to shorter wait times and better outcomes for recipients
Living kidney donation is generally safe, but it is still a major surgery. Risks include pain, infection, hernia, and in rare cases, reduced kidney function later in life. Read a full list of possible complications from the National Kidney Foundation.
Wait times vary widely based on factors like blood type, age, and location, but on average, it can range from 3 to 5 years in the U.S. Explore national averages and contributing factors in this article from JAMA.
As of recent data, more than 90,000 people in the United States are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant – making it the most in-demand organ. You can explore up-to-date statistics from Statista or the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.