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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Bladder stones are usually small masses of minerals that form in your bladder. Bladder stones develop when urine in your bladder becomes concentrated, causing minerals in your urine to crystallize. Concentrated, stagnant urine is often the result of not being able to completely empty your bladder. This may be due to an enlarged prostate, nerve damage or recurring urinary tract infections.

Bladder stones don't always cause signs or symptoms and may be discovered during tests for other problems. When symptoms do occur, they can range from abdominal pain to blood in your urine.

Small bladder stones sometimes pass on their own, but you may need to have others removed by your doctor. Left untreated, bladder stones can cause infections and other complications.

Symptoms
References
  1. Stoller ML. Urinary stone disease. In: Tanagho EA, et al. Smith's General Urology. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3127288. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  2. Urinary calculi. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/sec17/ch230/ch230a.html. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  3. Ban KM, et al. Selected urologic problems. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniqId=230100505-57. Accessed Dec. 19, 2010.
  4. Manthey DE, et al. Urologic stone disease. In: Tintinalli JE, et al. Tintinalli's Emergency Medicine: A Comprehensive Study Guide. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2011. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=6362783. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  5. Pearle MS, et al. Urologic diseases in America: Urolithiasis. National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/uda/Urolithiasis-Chapter08.pdf. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  6. Nicoletta JA. Medical evaluation and treatment of urolithiasis. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2006;53:479.
  7. Gravel root. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  8. Stone root. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  9. Hydrangea. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  10. Watkins RW. Urolithiasis (kidney and bladder stones). In: Rakel D. Integrative Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50063-6&isbn=978-1-4160-2954-0&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50063-6&uniqId=230284724-3#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2954-0..50063-6. Accessed Dec. 18, 2010.
  11. Castle EP (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale/Phoenix, Ariz. Dec. 28, 2010.
DS00904 Jan. 15, 2011

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