Can You Live Without A Kidney?

Although kidneys are clearly important for survival, they are not essential, and this is particularly true if only one kidney is present. Some people are born without one of their kidneys, a condition called renal agenesis. Some other people are born with renal dysplasia, in which two kidneys are present, but only one is functional.

While this can be worrying news for any new parent, most people with these conditions can live normal, healthy lives, as their bodies will adapt to the situation. In some instances, people will suffer a small loss of kidney function as they age, but this can take decades.