Anyone who’s actually had one will tell you the same thing: kidney stones are one of the most painful medical experiences a person can go through, and men happen to get them at a notably higher rate than women. If you’ve never had one, the pain is often described as coming in waves, sharp enough to send people to the emergency room even though the stone itself is sometimes smaller than a grain of rice. Kidney stones in men are common enough that a meaningful share will deal with at least one at some point in life, and once you’ve had one, your odds of having another go up considerably.

This article covers what actually causes kidney stones, why men are more prone to them, how they’re diagnosed, the full range of treatment options depending on stone size and location, what it typically costs, and — maybe most usefully — the specific prevention strategies that actually reduce your risk of a repeat episode. General information here isn’t a substitute for individualized medical advice, so talk to a doctor or urologist about your specific situation, especially if you’ve had stones before.

What Are Kidney Stones?

Kidney stones are hard deposits made of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys when urine becomes concentrated enough for these substances to crystallize and stick together. They range from tiny, sand-like particles that pass unnoticed to stones large enough to require surgical removal. Most kidney stones fall into a few main categories based on what they’re made of, with calcium oxalate stones being by far the most common, followed by uric acid stones, struvite stones (often linked to infection), and the much rarer cystine stones, which are tied to a genetic condition.

The pain associated with kidney stones usually happens when a stone moves out of the kidney and into the ureter, the narrow tube connecting the kidney to the bladder, where it can partially or fully block the flow of urine.

Why Are Men More Prone to Kidney Stones?

Men develop kidney stones at meaningfully higher rates than women, and researchers point to a combination of factors. Higher average protein and sodium intake, differences in urine composition influenced by testosterone, and higher rates of conditions like gout that are linked to uric acid stones all play a role. Men also tend to have less citrate in their urine, a substance that normally helps prevent stone formation, though the exact reasons for this difference aren’t fully settled.

 

Causes and Risk Factors

  • Chronic dehydration or consistently low fluid intake
  • A diet high in sodium, animal protein, or oxalate-rich foods
  • Obesity and metabolic syndrome
  • Family history of kidney stones
  • Certain digestive conditions that affect calcium and oxalate absorption
  • Gout or elevated uric acid levels
  • Certain medications and supplements, including excessive calcium or vitamin C supplementation
  • Hot climates or physically demanding jobs that lead to significant fluid loss through sweat
  • Recurrent urinary tract infections, particularly for struvite stones

Gout and kidney stones share more overlap than most people realize, since both are linked to how the body handles uric acid. If you’ve dealt with gout attacks, it’s worth reading about gout causes and prevention, since managing one condition often helps with the other.

Symptoms of Kidney Stones

Small stones sometimes pass without any noticeable symptoms at all. When symptoms do show up, they typically include:

  • Sudden, severe pain in the side or back, below the ribs, that can radiate to the lower abdomen and groin
  • Pain that comes in waves and fluctuates in intensity
  • Pain or burning during urination
  • Pink, red, or brown-tinged urine from blood
  • Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • A frequent, urgent need to urinate
  • Fever and chills, which can indicate an accompanying infection and need urgent attention

How Kidney Stones Are Diagnosed

A doctor will usually start with a physical exam and questions about your symptoms and medical history, followed by imaging to confirm a stone and see its size and location. CT scans are the most detailed option and are commonly used in emergency settings, while ultrasound is sometimes used as a lower-radiation alternative, particularly for follow-up monitoring. Urine tests can check for blood, signs of infection, and crystal composition, and blood tests can evaluate kidney function and calcium or uric acid levels. If you pass a stone, doctors often ask you to try to catch it in a strainer so it can be sent for lab analysis, since knowing the exact stone type meaningfully shapes prevention advice.

Treatment Options

Treatment depends heavily on the size, location, and type of stone, along with how much pain and blockage it’s causing.

Watchful waiting and pain management

Many smaller stones, generally those under a certain size threshold, will pass on their own with time. Doctors often recommend increased fluid intake, pain management as directed by a physician, and sometimes a medication that helps relax the ureter to ease the stone’s passage. Follow your doctor’s specific guidance on medication and dosing rather than relying on general information for this.

Procedures for larger or stuck stones

  • Shock wave lithotripsy uses focused sound waves from outside the body to break a stone into smaller pieces that can then pass more easily.
  • Ureteroscopy involves a thin scope passed through the urethra and bladder to locate and remove or break up a stone, often using a laser.
  • Percutaneous nephrolithotomy is a more involved procedure used for larger stones, done through a small incision in the back, typically reserved for stones too large for other methods.

Your urologist will recommend a specific approach based on your stone’s size, location, and composition, along with your overall health.

Costs and Insurance Considerations

Costs for kidney stone treatment vary enormously depending on severity. A stone that passes on its own after an ER visit and some pain medication costs considerably less than one requiring a surgical procedure and hospital stay. Emergency room visits, CT scans, and any procedure will typically involve your plan’s usual deductible, copay, and coinsurance, so a stone episode can be a meaningful unplanned expense even with good insurance.

Because kidney stone episodes often start with an unplanned ER visit, it’s a good idea to be familiar with how to dispute and negotiate medical bills afterward, since ER and imaging charges are common sources of billing errors and surprise costs. If you have a high-deductible health plan, using an HSA to cover the out-of-pocket costs can also soften the financial impact of an unexpected stone episode.

Prevention: Reducing Your Risk of Future Stones

If you’ve had one kidney stone, prevention becomes a genuine priority, since recurrence rates are significant without changes to diet and habits. The specific strategy depends somewhat on your stone type, so it’s worth discussing your lab results with a doctor, but general prevention strategies include:

  1. Drink enough water throughout the day to keep urine light-colored and dilute — this is consistently the single most effective prevention strategy for most stone types.
  2. Moderate sodium intake, since high salt intake increases calcium in the urine.
  3. Be thoughtful about animal protein intake, since diets very high in meat, poultry, and fish are linked to higher stone risk.
  4. Get calcium from food rather than avoiding it altogether — adequate dietary calcium actually helps bind oxalate in the gut and can reduce stone risk, contrary to what many people assume; that said, if you’re also correcting a vitamin D deficiency with supplements, mention your stone history to your doctor, since vitamin D affects how much calcium your body absorbs.
  5. Limit foods very high in oxalate, such as spinach and certain nuts, if you’re prone to calcium oxalate stones specifically.
  6. Maintain a healthy weight, since obesity is linked to higher stone risk.
  7. Manage uric acid levels and treat gout appropriately if that’s a factor for you.

When to See a Doctor

Seek immediate medical care for severe pain that isn’t controlled by over-the-counter pain relief, fever or chills alongside stone symptoms (which can indicate a dangerous infection), persistent vomiting, or an inability to urinate. For milder symptoms or if you suspect you’re passing a small stone without severe pain, a same-day or next-day appointment with a doctor or urologist is generally appropriate. If you’ve had more than one kidney stone, it’s worth asking your doctor about metabolic testing to identify what’s driving your stone formation so prevention efforts can be more targeted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to pass a kidney stone?

It varies widely depending on the stone’s size and location, ranging anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Your doctor can give you a more specific estimate based on imaging and may recommend follow-up imaging if it hasn’t passed within an expected timeframe.

Are kidney stones hereditary?

Family history does raise your risk, and if a parent or sibling has had kidney stones, you’re statistically more likely to develop them too. That said, diet and hydration habits play a major role regardless of family history, so prevention efforts still matter.

Can drinking too much water cause kidney stones?

No, quite the opposite. Adequate hydration is one of the most protective factors against kidney stone formation. The concern with fluids is usually about drinking too little, not too much, though your doctor can advise on appropriate intake if you have other kidney or heart conditions.

Does diet alone cause kidney stones, or is it always genetic?

It’s typically a combination. Genetics can predispose you to certain stone types, but diet, hydration, and lifestyle factors are often the more modifiable drivers, which is why dietary changes make such a meaningful difference in preventing recurrence for most people.

Is kidney stone pain really as bad as people say?

Many people who have experienced it describe it as among the most intense pain they’ve ever felt, often compared to labor pain. It’s a legitimate reason to seek emergency care rather than trying to tough it out at home.

Once I’ve had a kidney stone, will I definitely get another one?

Not definitely, but the odds are meaningfully higher than for someone who’s never had one. This is exactly why doctors emphasize prevention strategies so strongly after a first stone, since consistent changes can substantially lower the risk of a repeat episode.

The Bottom Line

Kidney stones in men are common, often intensely painful, and driven by a mix of genetics, diet, and hydration habits that are at least partly within your control. Treatment ranges from simply waiting it out with fluids and pain management to more involved procedures for larger stones, and the right approach depends on your specific situation.

If you’ve had a stone before, prevention is worth taking seriously, since a few consistent habits — mainly staying well hydrated and being thoughtful about diet — meaningfully cut your risk of going through it again. If you’re dealing with symptoms right now, don’t wait it out at home if the pain is severe; this is one condition where getting evaluated quickly genuinely makes a difference in your comfort and outcome.

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