Mental Health

Organ Transplants May Change Personality, Sexual Orientation of Recipients

By Corazon Victorino | Update Date: Apr 29, 2024 10:32 PM EDT
organ transplant

organ transplant | (Photo : Image by scotth23 from Pixabay)

Recent studies unveil unexpected consequences of organ transplants, including profound alterations in recipients' personality traits and sexual orientations.

In a study encompassing 47 participants, a staggering 89% disclosed personality modifications post-surgery, irrespective of the transplanted organ. These changes encompassed shifts in dietary preferences, intimacy inclinations and vocational pursuits, according to South China Morning Post.

A team of researchers from the University of Colorado documented that a majority of recipients experienced personality transformations, including "enhanced social and sexual adaptation" and "spiritual or religious episodes."

Among the respondents, six individuals noted alterations in sexual preferences. Additionally, some recipients purportedly assimilated memories of their organ donors-an assertion that stretches medical plausibility but hints at profound cognitive and emotional upheaval resulting from these intricate procedures.

However, not all post-transplant changes described by the study's subjects were affirmative. Several participants reported in the study published in the journal Transplantology adverse effects such as depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction.

Moreover, alternative explanations for these shifts are plausible. University of Colorado Assistant Clinical Professor and coauthor Mitch Liester suggested that "many of these changes may have resulted from improvement in physical health following surgery rather than a transfer of personality from donor to recipient," as per Futurism.

Nonetheless, the study's limitations, including its modest sample size of 47 individuals, warrant caution. The researchers acknowledge the potential for selection bias, emphasizing that individuals unaffected by personality changes might have been less inclined to participate in a study specifically probing such alterations following organ transplants.

In essence, while these findings highlight the profound impact of organ transplants on recipients, further research is needed to unravel the complexities of these transformative experiences.

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