Donating a kidney can save someone's life. The impacts of that gift extend beyond the recipient to their family and community. Research shows that donors also benefit emotionally from kidney donation.
There are many factors to consider when deciding if donation is right for you. You will need to be in good health and have a support system in place to help you recover after surgery. If you are considering becoming a living donor, you'll also want a medical team you can trust.
At Penn Medicine, our Living Donor Kidney Transplant team is the most experienced in the region. We help people achieve their goal of kidney donation and live long, healthy lives.
How to Donate a Kidney Without a Match or Identified Recipient
Often, people who want to donate a kidney to a relative or friend are not a match. The good news is you don't need to match your recipient or even have an identified recipient to be a living kidney donor.
Our participation in the National Kidney Registry offers the option of paired kidney donation for donors who aren't a match for their desired recipient. Your kidney doesn't go directly to your recipient, but you still get to donate, and your recipient gets a new kidney that is an excellent match.
If you don't have a recipient, non-directed donation allows your kidney to go to someone in need on the transplant list.
How Long Does Kidney Donation Take?
The time it takes to donate a kidney varies. The evaluation process — which consists of various appointments and medical tests — is the most time-consuming part. It ensures that donation is as safe as possible for you.
Some donors complete their evaluation in less than three months, while others take longer. Most patients tell us that the time it took for their evaluation was appropriate and met their needs.
Once the evaluation is complete, we schedule surgery as soon as possible. Most people are back to normal activities within four weeks after surgery.
Donating a Kidney: The Penn Medicine Difference
If you're considering kidney donation, you need a team that can answer all your questions and help you make an informed decision. At Penn you'll find:
- Donor-centered approach: The Living Donor Program, part of Penn's Center for Living Donation, is independent of the kidney transplant team. Donors are our main focus. We work to meet your needs and make the process as safe, efficient and convenient as possible for you.
- Multidisciplinary team: The kidney living donor team includes doctors, advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, a living donor advocate and support staff. We coordinate closely to provide each donor personal attention and care.
- Excellent outcomes: We have outstanding patient outcomes, including a 100 percent patient survival rate one year after surgery. We attribute these results to our high volumes, experienced teams and commitment to safety and quality.
- More options for donation: Our partnership with the National Kidney Registry allows us to offer paired kidney exchange, where you and your recipient don't have to be a match. For donors who do not have a recipient identified, the National Kidney Registry helps us find the best possible matched recipient for you.
- Comprehensive education: We provide continuous education throughout the kidney donation process. You receive the information you need to be sure donation is right for you and to go into surgery strong and prepared.
- Donor mentor program: Many patients want to talk to a previous donor to better understand the donor experience. Our nurse coordinators can connect you with a Penn donor mentor who can share their experience and help address any concerns you are feeling. We also partner with the National Kidney Donation Organization to provide mentoring and education.
Health Essentials for Becoming a Kidney Donor
In general, you should be between ages 20 and 70 and in good physical and mental health. Normal kidney function is essential. In addition, you should have:
- A designated primary care provider
- A support system to assist you during recovery
- Health insurance
You may not be able to donate if you have certain health conditions such as active cancer, diabetes, infection, severe mental health conditions, or uncontrolled blood pressure.
Learn more about testing and requirements for donors through Penn's kidney donor evaluation process.
Kidney Donor Protections and Vouchers
When you donate a kidney through Penn Medicine, you have access to several protections and vouchers through the National Kidney Registry:
- Advance donation voucher: For paired donations, this voucher allows you to donate any time before your selected recipient needs a kidney transplant. When they are ready, the recipient receives prioritization for a living donor transplant.
- Donor prioritization: It is unlikely that your remaining kidney will fail. If it does, you have several levels of protection. The National Kidney Registry's Donor Shield program prioritizes you for a living donor transplant. You also receive prioritization for a deceased donor kidney from the United Network for Organ Sharing.
- Family voucher: As a non-directed donor, you receive five vouchers for family members. If one of them ever needs a kidney transplant, they will be prioritized for a living donor kidney transplant.
Mentorship Program: Connecting Current and Past Donors
At Penn, we understand how important it is for donors to receive information from those who have already been through the donation process. Our nurse coordinators help connect potential donors with past Penn donors. Mentors and donors often continue their relationships after donation. Donor mentoring and education are also available through Penn partner, the National Kidney Donation Organization.
We also provide a first-hand view of the patient experience through our patient stories and Penn Transplant Institute Education Session: The Living Donor Experience.
Your Independent Living Donor Advocate
The Independent Living Donor Advocate (ILDA) meets with each donor several times during the donation process. The ILDA is your advocate. Their role is to make sure you are fully informed about donation and are not being pressured into donation. You will talk to the ILDA about your motivation for donating and your relationship with the recipient. The ILDA will also review your donor rights, including the right to opt out at any time.
Kidney Donation Risks
Overall, living kidney donation is safe. Like any surgery, the procedure does have some risks.
Our extensive evaluation process helps reduce risks related to donation. By carefully assessing your physical health, mental health, financial situation and social support, we can identify potential problems before they arise.
Some of the risks of kidney donation include:
- Financial risks: Most medical expenses are paid by the recipient's health insurance. You may incur other expenses related to transportation, lodging, childcare or lost wages. Our social workers and financial counselors work with you to identify these costs before donation. We can help you apply for assistance through the National Kidney Registry, National Living Donor Assistance Center and other programs.
- Insurance risks: Some donors have reported problems getting life insurance and higher premiums. But under the Affordable Care Act, health insurers cannot refuse to cover you because you have one kidney.
- Kidney health risks: Studies show that the risk of kidney failure in living donors is very low. In the unlikely event of kidney failure, donors are prioritized for a deceased donor kidney transplant. If you donate through the National Kidney Registry, you are also prioritized for a living donor kidney transplant.
- Pregnancy risks: Donation may slightly increase the risk of some complications during pregnancy, such as gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia. If you are considering pregnancy after donation, your evaluation team will talk to you about your risks.
- Psychological and social risks: While most kidney donors report similar or improved quality of life after donation, some people may experience depression, anxiety or stress. Penn Medicine offers individualized guidance from our social work and transplant psychiatry team to help you cope with these feelings.
- Surgical risks: Kidney donation carries surgical risks such as bleeding and infection. The risk of a major surgical complication is rare (less than 3 percent or 3 in 100) and the risk of death is extremely rare (.03 percent or 3 in 10,000).
As part of your evaluation, we review all your risks with you so you can carefully consider whether donation is right for you.
Make an Appointment
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