Can a Male Donate a Kidney to a Female?

If you are considering becoming a living kidney donor, you may be wondering what role the sex of the donor and the recipient play in kidney matching. For example, what if a male donor wants to donate a kidney to a female recipient? Is there a difference between male and female kidney size?

Usually, the sex of the donor and recipient do not play a significant role in kidney matching between donors and recipients. Gender matching is not a requirement for a successful kidney transplant, and gender is not a primary factor when determining whether a kidney donation can take place.

Other factors are more important, including blood and tissue type matching, which are crucial to minimize the risk of organ rejection. (Learn more about kidney matching.)

Therefore, a man can donate a kidney to a woman as long as the man is deemed a suitable donor and other compatibility factors are met.

It’s important to note that the final decision on whether a specific donor and recipient are a suitable match will be determined through a comprehensive evaluation conducted by medical professionals at a transplant center. They will consider various factors to ensure the best possible outcome for both the donor and recipient.

The NKR does not recommend any restrictions or guidelines related to the mix of gender between donor and recipients matched in the NKR and has seen very few instances where a center has declined a match based on the gender mix.

If you have any concerns about gender matching considerations regarding your kidney donation, please consult your transplant team.