Kidney stones are small, hard masses in the kidneys, made up of crystals that separate from the urine in the urinary tract. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse, a woman's risk for developing kidney stones peaks when she's in her 50s. Many kidney stones do not cause symptoms. When symptoms such as pain, cramping, nausea and vomiting arise, they are generally intense.
Pain and Cramping
Pain is a primary and generally severe symptom of kidney stones. Pain may first appear in a person's side, back or below the ribs and appear as a sharp, sudden and intense cramping sensation. The pain usually spreads to the lower abdominal area and sometimes into the pelvis. Since kidney stones can block the flow of urine, bodily pain during urination may also occur. If a kidney stone is too large to pass with ease, pain generally continues as a person's lower abdominal muscles attempt to squeeze the stone out into the bladder.
Urinary Symptoms
As the body works to move kidney stones out, the process may cause blood to seep into the urine. As a result, a woman's urine may appear pink, brown or red. Since many women are accustomed to seeing blood in their urine along with pain due to menstruation, these symptoms may be mistaken for menstrual symptoms. However, pain that accompanies blood in the urine due to kidney stones is far more intense than most women's menstrual cramps and may accompany vaginal pain. A woman may also experience a burning sensation when she urinates and a frequent urge to urinate, whether she needs to or not.
Flu-Like Symptoms
Kidney stones can cause symptoms similar to those of the flu. Such symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, fever and chills. Fever and chills are likely if an infection is also present. According to the Mayo Clinic, nausea, vomiting, fever and chills generally require immediate medical attention, particularly when accompanied by pain.
