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Myths and Facts About Kidney Transplantation

Posted On Dec 23, 2019

Department of

Manipal Hospitals

Kidney Transplantation is the best solution for any serious complications of the kidneys. Yet, in our country, there is a gross mismatch between the demand and availability of healthy kidneys. This is partly due to several misconceptions and a general lack of awareness regarding this life-saving treatment. Let’s clear some of the most common misconceptions and replace them with proven facts:

Myth 1: A kidney donor will have to rely on medications for the rest of their life due to long-standing health problems.
Fact: A donor will have to take medication only for a certain period of time post-surgery to help with the recovery. All donors are subjected to a thorough medical assessment and careful follow-ups.

Myth 2: After kidney donation, a male loses the ability to support a family.
Fact: Donating a kidney does not affect the productivity of a person.

Myth 3: A donor will be on bed rest post-surgery.
Fact: A donor will be able to walk independently before getting discharged from the hospital.

Myth 4: A donor’s sex life will be adversely affected after the surgery.
Fact: There is no correlation between kidney donation and the sex life of an individual.

Myth 5: A female donor cannot get pregnant after donating.
Fact: Provided the person waits for 3-6 months after donating to give time to the body for recovery, she can get pregnant.

Myth 6: A donor will be subjected to dietary restrictions.
Fact:
There are no special restrictions and the common principle of a healthy, balanced diet is applicable to the donor too.

Myth 7: A kidney donor cannot participate in outdoor activities.
Fact: The donor can resume his normal sporting and exercise activities about 4-6 weeks following the surgery.

Myth 8: Aged people cannot donate kidneys.
Fact: Any adult over the age of 18 can be a donor and there are no age restrictions provided they are in good health and satisfy the medical requirements.

Myth 9: Kidney donors are more likely to get kidney diseases.
Fact: This is only partially true. While they are more susceptible to diseases compared to healthy non-donors, they are less likely than the general population to get such diseases.

Myth 10: People who have tattoos cannot donate kidneys.
Fact: People can donate even if they are tattoos. But, potential donors should avoid getting tattoos to prevent the spread of infection.

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