Kidney stones in women can be difficult to diagnose due to confusion with menstrual pain. Symptoms include sudden, severe pain, fever, nausea, vomiting, or blood in urine. Treatment involves increasing fluid intake and pain relief medication, with surgery only occasionally needed.
Kidney stones occur when hardened, often pebble-like masses develop in one or both kidneys. Kidney stones in women can be a little more difficult to diagnose than in men. This is because the primary kidney stone symptom of abdominal pain is often confused with menstrual pain. An accurate diagnosis of kidney stones in women often relies on the presence of other symptoms, such as fever or blood in the urine. Treatment is usually conservative and consists of increasing fluid intake and taking pain relievers until the stones disappear; surgery to break up or remove stones is only occasionally needed.
The most common symptom of kidney stones in women is sudden, severe pain. This pain generally starts in the back of the side where the affected kidney is. Pain from a kidney stone often radiates to the front of the abdomen and groin area. Due to the proximity to the female reproductive organs, this pain is often mistaken for menstrual-type problems. This confusion is even more common if the woman has ovarian cysts or a condition known as endometriosis, as the symptoms are often similar.
In addition to abdominal or back pain, other symptoms of kidney stones in women can include fever, nausea, vomiting, or blood in the urine. Any combination of these symptoms warrants a trip to the doctor. Simple lab tests such as blood or urine tests can often rule out other potential causes of the pain, such as an infection. An X-ray or ultrasound may also be requested in an attempt to check for a stone.
Once kidney stones have been diagnosed, treatment can begin. The patient is typically sent home and advised to drink plenty of fluids, especially water. This will help flush out any toxins from the kidneys while helping move the stone out of the body. If a urinary tract infection is also present, antibiotics may be prescribed.
Over-the-counter pain medications can be used to help control some of the pain associated with kidney stones in women. In many cases, this type of medication does not provide sufficient pain relief. In this case, a doctor may prescribe stronger medications to combat the pain. Anti-nausea medications are also often prescribed to patients who experience nausea or vomiting due to kidney stones or as a side effect of pain medication.
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