Why do some people have only 1 kidney?

There are several reasons why some people have only one kidney:

1. Congenital Abnormalities: Some individuals are born with a single functioning kidney due to developmental abnormalities during fetal development. This condition is known as renal agenesis, where one kidney fails to develop properly.

2. Surgical Removal: A person may have had one kidney surgically removed due to various medical conditions. Some examples include:

- Kidney disease: Chronic kidney disease or severe damage to a kidney may require surgical removal to prevent further complications.

- Kidney cancer: If kidney cancer is localized and confined to one kidney, surgery may involve removing the affected kidney.

- Severe trauma: In cases of severe abdominal trauma or injury, a damaged or non-functional kidney may need to be removed.

- Kidney transplant: During a kidney transplant, the recipient receives a healthy kidney from a donor, and the original diseased or non-functioning kidney may be removed.

3. Kidney Donation: Some people choose to donate one of their healthy kidneys to a person in need of a transplant. Living kidney donation is a common practice for individuals willing to help others with kidney failure.

4. Nephrectomy: In rare cases, a doctor may recommend surgical removal of a kidney for specific medical reasons, such as recurrent kidney infections, chronic pain, or certain kidney diseases that cannot be managed through other treatments.

It's important to note that having only one kidney does not necessarily affect a person's overall health and well-being as long as the remaining kidney is functioning properly. Regular monitoring by a healthcare professional is essential to ensure kidney function and overall health in individuals with a single kidney.