Before I get too in-depth there are a couple of points it's worth mentioning.

First of all you have to find out if your loved one is able to receive a transplant.  I know it’s a sensitive and sometimes difficult question.  If he/she is already on the transplant waiting list then the answer would usually be yes, unless their condition has recently deteriorated.  A transplant is still a major operation for the recipient, so, before you jump ahead to worrying about the transplant, please slow down and check what the situation is.

If your loved one is not yet on the transplant list, just saying that you are interested in donating should speed up the process of getting them approved for a transplant.

If you have said that you wish to donate, your loved one should still stay on the list in the meantime.  If a kidney becomes available they should receive it – so remember that this is also a possibility.

If you're a woman and you are thinking of getting pregnant in the future, don't worry, pregnancy is still entirely possible after donating a kidney.  I was told that I had to wait at least a year before thinking about it, but if you were to donate through keyhole surgery that time might even go down.  It’s best to talk directly to your transplant co-ordinator to check what the current medical advice is, as this does tend to be constantly amended!

In order to be able to donate you need to be in good health.  Not too overweight, with good general organ function - heart, lungs, and of course kidneys!

If a transplant is an option, you should be put in touch with a transplant co-ordinator.  First of all you should have a meeting with them where they can talk you through all the details, and you should have blood tests to see if you are a match and check basic things such as blood pressure, weight etc.

At none of these stages should you feel committed, as there is still a long way to go.  Even if you are a match you will still need to have a lot of other tests.

The general age guidelines are 18-60 for donors, with donation for people up to the age of 55 being seen as "routine".