If you’ve had a kidney stone before, you may wonder what caused it and whether you can prevent another one. Kidney stones can form for several reasons, from not drinking enough water to certain foods, infections, and health conditions.
So, what causes kidney stones in women, and are there certain risks women should know about?
1. What Causes Kidney Stones to Form?
Kidney stones form when minerals and other substances in your urine become concentrated enough to create crystals. Over time, those crystals can stick together and form a hard stone.
The cause can depend on the type of stone. Not drinking enough water, high levels of calcium or oxalate in your urine, too much uric acid, infections, and certain inherited conditions can all play a role.
2. Are the Causes of Kidney Stones Different in Women?
Women and men share many of the same kidney stone risk factors, including:
- Not drinking enough water
- A family history of kidney stones
- Certain foods or diets
- Being overweight
- Digestive disorders
- Changes in the levels of certain substances in your urine
Women may also have risks related to pregnancy and certain urinary tract infections (UTIs).
3. Can Dehydration Cause Kidney Stones?
Not drinking enough water is one of the biggest kidney stone risk factors you can control.
When you don’t drink enough, you make less urine and it becomes more concentrated. That makes it easier for minerals to form crystals that can grow into stones.
Your risk can also go up during hot weather or anytime you’re losing a lot of fluid. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help lower your risk.
4. Can Diet Cause Kidney Stones in Women?
What you eat can play a role in kidney stone formation. Eating too much salt can increase the amount of calcium in your urine. Large amounts of animal protein may also raise your risk of certain calcium and uric acid stones.
Foods high in oxalate may be a concern if you tend to form calcium oxalate stones. But calcium in food isn’t automatically a problem, so don’t cut back unless your doctor recommends it.
If you’ve had a kidney stone, testing the stone and your urine can help your urologist recommend diet changes based on the type of stone you form.
5. Can a Urinary Tract Infection Cause Kidney Stones?
Certain UTIs can cause a type of kidney stone called a struvite stone. These stones develop when certain bacteria change the chemistry of your urine.
Struvite stones can grow quickly and may become quite large. Treatment usually includes antibiotics and removing the stone to help keep the infection from coming back.
6. Does Pregnancy Increase the Risk of Kidney Stones?
The risk of kidney stones can go up slightly later in pregnancy and shortly after delivery. Changes in your urinary tract during pregnancy may play a role.
Kidney stones during pregnancy are still uncommon. If you develop severe side or back pain while pregnant, talk to your doctor so they can find out what’s causing it.
7. What if I Keep Getting Kidney Stones?
If you keep getting kidney stones, your urologist may recommend tests to figure out why they’re forming.
These may include:
- Stone analysis
- Blood tests
- A 24-hour urine collection
These tests can show whether you have high levels of calcium, oxalate, or uric acid in your urine, low citrate levels, or aren’t making enough urine.
8. When Should I See a Doctor for Kidney Stone Symptoms?
See your doctor if you have symptoms such as:
- Severe pain in your side, back, lower abdomen, or groin
- Pain that comes and goes in waves
- Side or back pain with nausea or vomiting
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- A frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Blood in your urine
Get medical care right away if you have kidney stone symptoms along with a fever or chills. A stone that blocks the flow of urine while you have an infection can become a medical emergency. You should also get checked if your pain is severe or isn’t getting better.
Learn What Causes Kidney Stones in Women
If you’ve had a kidney stone or keep getting them, finding the cause can help you lower your risk of another one. A urologist can help figure out why you’re getting kidney stones and recommend ways to lower your risk or treat stones that are causing problems.
Comprehensive Urologic Care sees patients in Lake Barrington, Elgin, Hoffman Estates, and Crystal Lake. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and find the treatment that’s right for you.