Bladder Stones Health Video

Bladder stones are small masses of minerals that form in your bladder, the balloon-shaped organ in your pelvis that stores urine. Bladder stones, also called bladder calculi, often form when concentrated urine sits in your bladder. Bladder stones are usually removed by your doctor, but small stones may pass on their own. Left untreated, bladder stones can cause infections and other complications. Learn about bladder stones including possible causes, symptoms, and treatment in this video.

Take Action

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily
Contact a doctor for painful urination
Contact a doctor for sharp abdominal pain
Follow up with a doctor after treatment

About this Author

Dr. Susan McGladdery is a medical graduate from Oxford University in the UK and has a Master's Degree in Medical Sciences from Cambridge University. She has been a member of the Royal College of Physicians since 1991 and a member of the American Academy of Urgent Care since 2006. She trained as a Family Physician in the UK in Oxford and then in London. In a medical career that spans over 20 years, she has worked as a doctor in 5 countries on 3 continents and cared for patients from a multitude of different nationalities and backgrounds. Dr. McGladdery joined FirstMed Centers in mid 2002 and became Regional Medical Director in 2003.

SUSAN MCGLADERRY, BM, BCH, MRCP: Hello. My name is Dr. Susan McGladerry. I'm the medical director from the FirstMed Centers in Budapest, Hungary and I'd like to give you some information about bladder stones. Bladder stones are hard buildups of material that form in the urinary bladder. They're much less common than kidney stones and about 95% of all bladder stones occur in men. Usually, it's the result of another urological problem such as an enlarged prostate, urinary tract infection, or bladder diverticulum. It may occur when urine in the bladder becomes concentrated and materials crystalize. The symptoms arise when the lining of the bladder is irritated by the stone or when the stone obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder. Typically, there will be frequent difficult and/or painful urination. There may be blood in the urine, also abdominal pain or feeling of pressure, there may also be fever, and in some cases, even urinary incontinence may be associated with bladder stones. How's this condition diagnosed? There may be signs on pelvic x-ray or endoscopically on cystoscopy. What about the treatment of bladder stones? Drinking extra fluid may help to pass the stone, something like six to eight glasses of water daily is recommended. Stones that don't pass can be removed using an instrument called the cystoscope which is passed into the bladder. Alternatively, in some cases, extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy which uses ultrasonic waves can break up the stone. Some stones may need to be removed using the open surgical technique. Medications rarely are used to dissolve stones. Underlying causes of bladder stone formation also do need to be treated to prevent problems with recurrence of stone after the initial treatment. What's the typical outcome if you have bladder stones? Mostly, they're expelled or can be removed easily without damage to the bladder, but as I've said they may recur if the underlying cause is not treated. Importantly, when these stones are not treated, they may give rise to repeated urinary tract infections or even result in permanent damage to the bladder or the kidney.