Bladder stones are small stones that form inside the bladder. They can irritate the wall of the bladder and disrupt the flow of urine out of the bladder.
This can cause symptoms such as:
- pain, which can often be severe, in the lower abdomen
- changes to the normal pattern of urination, such as having to pass urine much more frequently or waking up in the night needing to go to the toilet
- blood in your urine
- pain when urinating
Read more about the symptoms of bladder stones.
When to see your GP
It is recommended that you contact your GP if you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above. They are not necessarily the result of bladder stones but they will require further investigation.
Causes
In England (and in other developed countries) the most common cause of bladder stones is when a person is unable to completely empty the urine from their bladder.
If urine sits in the bladder for a long time, the chemicals contained in the urine will begin to form crystals and these crystals will come together and harden to form bladder stones.
Reasons why a person may be unable to empty their bladder completely include:
- in men, having an enlarged prostate gland that blocks the flow of urine out of the bladder
- an injury to the spine that damages the nerves used to control the bladder
In the developing world eating a poor diet is a common cause of bladder stones. A diet lacking in nutrients can change the chemical make-up of urine making the formation of stones more likely.
Read more about the causes of bladder stones.
Treatment
Surgery is usually required to remove the stones from the bladder. Most commonly a small laser is used to break up the stones before they are removed. This can usually be carried out as a day case.
It is also important to treat the underlying causes of bladder stones (where possible). This is because if the causes are left untreated, new stones could develop in the future.
Read more about treating bladder stones.
Who is affected?
Bladder stones are an uncommon condition in England.
Each year in England an estimated 6,000 people go into hospital to be treated for bladder stones.
Most cases of bladder stones affect older men aged 50 or above, due to the link with prostate enlargement.
Bladder stones can affect children, but this is much less common, with an average of 20 to 40 cases a year.
