Women are five times more likely to donate a kidney to their spouse than men, a study reveals

Experts suggested altruism could be the cause, though men are also more likely to have kidney problems in the first place

-By Nick McDermott - The Sun

Experts said the likely reason is that wives are simply less selfish.

Men were five times less likely to donate a kidney to their spouse than women, but is selfishness the reason?

European donor figures that includes British data reveal that 36 per cent of women that are clinically suitable go on to donate a kidney to their husband.

However, only seven per cent of suitable men go on to donate a kidney for their wife.

International Society of Nephrology Past President Professor Adeera Levin, from the University of British Colombia, Canada, said: “Although it is hard to pinpoint a specific reason for higher numbers of wives being donors than husbands, the evidence suggests women are motivated by reasons such as altruism and the desire to help their family continue to survive.”

The research, published in the journal Visceral Medicine, was released to mark World Kidney Day.

Professor Adeera Levin of the University of British Colombia hinted higher altruism in women could explain the figures

It shows two-thirds of all living kidney donors in Europe were women in 2014.

And 36 per cent of wives but only 6.5 per cent of suitable husbands donated their kidney.

NHS Blood and Transplant confirmed women make up 54 per cent of the UK organ donor register.

Lisa Burnapp, NHSBT Lead Nurse for Living Donation, said: “Whilst a higher proportion of female to male donors may be attributed to different choices between women and men, there are other factors that contribute when drawing a comparison.

“For example, if a couple have had children together and the man wishes to donate to his female partner, she may have antibodies against him from her pregnancies which would make him an unsuitable donor for her.

“However, if the situation was reversed, the woman would be able to donate to her male partner.” NHS data shows there were 990 living kidney donors in 2017. It is a 10 per cent decline on 2013, the highest ever year.

If a couple have had children together, the man may be an unsuitable donor for the woman due to antibodies against him left over from the pregnancy, said Lisa Burnapp, NHSBT Lead Nurse for Living Donation

Living donation accounts for one in three kidney transplants, and officials said 261 people died waiting for one.

Fiona Loud, Policy Director of Kidney Care UK, received a kidney from her husband 11 years ago.

She said: “Giving a kidney to a loved one is an incredible gift and last year around a third of all kidney transplants were from living donors.

The decision to donate a kidney is a difficult, but potentially life-saving one. 261 people died last year waiting for a living kidney transplant, while 990 living transplants took place in the UK

“Deciding to give a kidney is a very personal and emotional decision so more research is needed in order to understand the reasons why women are more likely to become living donors.

“If we are to reverse the current downward trend in the number of living kidney donations in the UK we need to ensure that both men and women know about living kidney donation and are supported in their decision to do so.”