Kidney Transplantation is a treatment of last resort, opted for when the existing kidneys are incapable of functioning properly. It is a surgery which involves placing a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor in the recipient’s body

1. MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT KIDNEY
TRANSPLANTATION
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-

2. 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 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.

3. 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 spread of an infection.