Kidney stones are better known as renal calculi, urolithiasis, or nephrolithiasis. These are hard deposits made of salts and minerals within the kidneys. The most common causes of kidney stones include excessive body weight, improper diet, medications and supplements, etc.
It is very likely for kidney stones to affect any part of your urinary tract. So basically, both your kidneys and bladder can take a toll. Most of all, when urine becomes concentrated, stones tend to form within the kidney. Thus, it makes the minerals crystalize and makes them stick together.
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In rare cases, women have kidney stones when pregnant. Since it is a rare occurrence, it is imperative to acquire a proper and necessary diagnosis to ease the pain.
Today, this article will enlighten you with the probable causes, symptoms, treatments, and other essential things about kidney stones in women. Let’s begin.
Kidney Stone - What is it?
A stone within the kidney is an irregularly-shaped crystal or solid mass. It can have the size of a sand grain and even range up to the size of a golf ball. And at times, you might not even realise that your kidneys host stone(s).
It is true that women's kidney problems are endless. In fact, it is also possible for smaller stones to inflict pain while exiting your body through the urinary tract. So drinking plenty of fluids might help in the process, and it might take at least three weeks to recover completely.
An excruciatingly large kidney stone might get trapped inside your ureter. And in such a situation, the kidney stone is likely to promote bleeding. Further, it prevents urine from leaving your body. In fact, you are very likely to undergo surgery to eliminate the stones which can’t pass on their own. Click here to know what happens when we snooze.
Are Kidney Stones Common in Women?
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Researchers and scientists have concluded that at least one out of every ten people is likely to get a kidney stone. It is true that both male and female kidney function creatinine. And a significant increase in the creatinine level is an early sign of improperly functioning kidneys.
It is seen that kidney stones are far less common in girl children than that in adult women. However, even if they occur, the reason for kidney stones is possibly the same. Girl children diagnosed with asthma are more likely to develop kidney stones than the ones without asthma.
Common Types of Kidney Stones in Women
It is evident that women's experiences with kidney stones are endless. And the most common type of kidney stone occurring in women is a calcium oxalate stone. This occurs mainly when oxalate and calcium are combined with the urine. This can typically occur when you have higher quantities of oxalate and lower amounts of calcium.
Besides, stones can also form when fluid intake is quite low. Also, kidney stones formed because of uric acid are a fairly common thing. These typically come from a natural substance known as purine. It is basically a byproduct of animal proteins, including chicken, fish, meat, etc.
Causes of Kidney Stones
Kidney stones don't have a definite cause. However, several factors might promote the risks of female kidney disease symptoms. Kidney stones usually form when your urine contains more crystal-forming substances like oxalate, calcium, uric acid, etc.
Besides, your urine might lack suitable substances that prevent the crystals from sticking together. Thus, it creates an ideal environment for forming kidney stones.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones
Women can have stones within their kidneys for years long and have zero ideas about their existence. With time, it tends to grow larger, And it is ubiquitous to experience female kidney failure symptoms if not treated at the right time.
Some of the most common symptoms of kidney stone include:
- Experiencing excruciating pain in the lower back side of the body. The pain typically commences as a dull ache which is likely to come and go. Sometimes, it can also become severe, and you might have to be rushed to the emergency room.
- Noticing blood in the urine.
- Experiencing nausea and vomiting while inflicting severe pain.
- Incapable of urinating.
- Experiencing severe pain while urinating.
- Having fever and chills.
- Having the urge to urinate more often.
- Urinating cloudy urine, which smells immensely bad.
It would be best to remember that the smaller kidney stones might not inflict pain or cause other symptoms. These are typically known as “silent stones” as they tend to pass out from your body while urinating.
Symptoms of Kidney Stones in Girls
The most common symptom of kidney stones in small girls is blood oozing out with urine while inflicting pain. The amount of pain caused by kidney stones entirely depends on where the stone is located and its size.
Some of the other symptoms of kidney stones include:
- Incapable of urinating even when there is a consistent urge.
- A severe colicky pain.
- Blood coming out with urine.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Fever, chills, and weakness.
- Cloudy and foul-smelling urine.
These might be a sign of severe infection within the kidneys.
Treatment for Kidney Stones
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After diagnosing stones in your kidney, your healthcare provider will determine the kind of treatment you require. If you have smaller kidney stones, they are likely to leave your system while urinating. However, it can be excruciating when they pass out from your body.
There are two kinds of female kidney stones treatment. The options include surgery and medication. Medications are often prescribed to manage nausea and vomiting, decrease pain, and relax your ureter.
On the other hand, physicians can use four kinds of surgeries for treating kidney stones. They include ureteroscopy, percutaneous nephrolithotomy, shockwave lithotripsy, open stone surgery, etc.
The kind of surgery you will undergo entirely depends on the type of kidney stone you are diagnosed with. Also, it depends on the size and location.
To Conclude
Drinking adequate fluid and keeping yourself hydrated will help keep your urine less concentrated with waste products. Thus, it will help you prevent kidney stones from growing incessantly. And if required, you can consult with a dietitian and make the necessary changes in your diet.
