Research indicates that there are almost no long-term risks to donating a kidney, provided you have thoroughly checked your health and ensured you do not have any conditions that might worsen after donation.
Kidney donation is a major surgery with short-term risks, including bleeding and infection. After donating a kidney, you will need to spend some time recovering in the hospital and at home. The remaining kidney will adapt to the increased blood flow and filtering more metabolic waste, and it will gradually enlarge over time.
The long-term survival rate, quality of life, overall health, and risk of kidney failure for kidney donors are comparable to those of non-donors. However, it is advisable for kidney donors to regularly monitor kidney function and blood pressure to ensure ongoing health.