What are the symptoms of kidney stones? Male and female

The main symptoms of kidney stones include severe pain in the waist and abdomen, hematuria, and difficulty urinating. The symptoms are roughly the same for male and female patients, but some manifestations may differ due to physiological differences. For example, women may mistakenly think it is a gynecological problem, while men often have groin pain. Timely medical treatment is the most important thing. The location and size of the stones should be confirmed through imaging examinations to avoid delaying treatment.

1. Pain symptoms

The most common symptom of kidney stones is sudden, severe pain in the lower abdomen, which is often caused by the movement of stones in the urinary system. This pain is usually paroxysmal and can radiate to the lower abdomen or groin area. Male patients may feel pain in the groin or testicles, while female patients may mistakenly think it is related to the ovaries or uterus. To relieve the pain, you need to take antispasmodics and analgesics, such as ibuprofen or indomethacin, according to the situation. At the same time, drinking plenty of water to help the stones pass is the first choice.

2. Hematuria and abnormal urine

Kidney stones may scratch the urinary tract during movement, resulting in obvious hematuria, pink or red urine, and occasionally sand-like particles or small stones in the urine. If hematuria is accompanied by turbid urine or odor, it may indicate a concurrent infection. Antibacterial drugs such as levofloxacin should be taken as soon as possible, and urine culture should be performed under the guidance of a doctor to determine the infected bacteria.

3. Difficulty and pain in urination

Some patients have difficulty urinating due to stone impaction, which may cause obstruction of urine flow. In severe cases, they may be completely unable to urinate, resulting in acute urinary retention. Many patients may experience stinging pain during urination, and it is necessary to pay attention to whether there is urinary tract infection or cystitis. At this time, urethral dilation treatment is required, such as the use of α-receptor blockers such as tamsulosin, and combined with imaging assessment to determine whether lithotripsy is needed.

4. Nausea, vomiting and general discomfort

Large kidney stones may cause renal colic, which may even cause nausea, vomiting, and general fatigue. In severe cases, symptoms such as sweating and palpitations may also occur. In such cases, you should seek medical attention immediately and use imaging tests such as CT or B-ultrasound to evaluate the stone condition. If necessary, you can choose surgical treatment such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy.

Although symptoms are generally the same for male and female patients, they may present differently due to different anatomical structures, so it is necessary to carefully check whether there are other problems. If you suspect that your symptoms are related to kidney stones, you should go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible to determine the location, size, and severity of the symptoms caused by the stones so that the most suitable treatment plan can be adopted.