Why Are Kidney Stones More Common in Men?

Kidney stones affect millions of Americans every year, and historically, most of those people have been men. Though the number of kidney stones among women has been on the rise, some data show men have roughly double the risk of developing painful stones. 

At Nephrocare MD LLC, Chadi Saad, MD, and his team provide patient-centered kidney stone treatment for both men and women, focusing on therapies that relieve kidney stone symptoms and prevent stones from forming in the future. 

In recognition of Men’s Health Month, this blog post is dedicated to reviewing the basics of kidney stones and why they tend to occur more often among males.

ABCs of kidney stones

Urine is made up of lots of substances, like calcium, uric acid, and oxalate. Typically, these substances pass out of your body through your urine, but if their concentrations are high, these substances can “clump together” to form hard stones or crystals that grow over time.

Stones can range in size. Although tiny stones typically pass without causing any symptoms, larger stones can get “stuck,” causing an array of symptoms, like:

• Dull aching in your back
• Severe pain in your lower belly or side
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dark or cloudy urine
• Pain during urination
• Frequent need to urinate (although output may be low)

Stones that don’t pass on their own need medical intervention to break apart the stone or remove it to prevent complications, like kidney damage.

Lots of factors can contribute to kidney stone formation, including dehydration, dietary habits, and even genetics. Underlying medical issues, like obesity, gout, or diabetes, can increase your risk of kidney stones, too.

Kidney stones and gender

Researchers still aren’t sure why kidney stones happen more often in men, but they have identified some potential culprits.

Muscle mass

Elevated muscle mass in men may lead to higher production of uric acid, a compound found in some types of kidney stones. Excess uric acid can collect in the kidneys, increasing the risk of stone development. 

Hormones

Kidney stone formation tends to increase among women in menopause, leading researchers to consider the protective role of estrogen. Since men have far less estrogen compared with women, that could also explain why stones are more common in men.

Dietary habits

Men also tend to consume more animal protein compared with women, which means their levels of calcium and uric acid are typically higher, too. Salt intake is also higher among men, increasing the risk of dehydration and concentrated urine.

Hydration needs

Men tend to have larger bodies than women, along with more muscle mass. As a result, they need to drink more water to maintain optimal health and functions, like urination. Men who don’t drink enough fluids to meet those needs can leave themselves with an elevated risk of kidney stones.

Anatomy

The elevated risk of kidney stones among men may also be partially explained by subtle differences in anatomy. Specifically, an enlarged prostate gland can inhibit normal urine flow, resulting in slower urine drainage and an increased risk of mineral buildup that leads to stones.

Bottom line: Early intervention is critical

It’s worth noting that even though kidney stones have historically occurred far more often in men, recent research shows the gender gap is narrowing, with some studies showing stones affect about 11% of men and 9% of women. 

Researchers aren’t sure why these numbers are changing, but the take-home message is clear: If you have symptoms of kidney stones, early evaluation is critical for any gender. 

To have your symptoms evaluated or to learn what you can do to prevent stones in the future, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. Saad and the team at Nephrocare MD LLC in Dearborn, Michigan, today.