Bladder Stones

Small bladder stones don’t usually cause any symptoms, but larger stones can lead to:

• bladder irritation

• urinary tract infections (UTIs) that keep coming back

• bladder pain

• blood in your urine

• not being able to pee

Symptoms of large bladder stones are usually severe, and the condition needs fast treatment. 

Bladder stones can form over time when you go to the toilet but don’t fully empty your bladder, which is more common in men than women. This is called benign prostatic hyperplasia, which leads to the crystallisation of urine, infection, and stone formation. 

Other causes of bladder stones include:

• an external object that’s entered the bladder that’s not meant to be there

• bladder infections that keep coming back

• migrating stones from the kidney

To diagnose bladder stones, a specialist will review your medical history, ask about your symptoms, and perform a physical exam.

They may also order certain tests to help confirm a diagnosis, such as:

• urine tests – where you’ll pee into a special cup and the sample will be tested in a lab to check for small bladder stones. They’ll also check for signs of a UTI or blood

• imaging tests – like a CT scan, an X-ray and/or an ultrasound to see clear pictures of your bladder, and the size, shape, and location of any bladder stones

• cystoscopy – a long, flexible, pencil-sized tube with a camera on the end that’s inserted through your urethra to your bladder, to look for stones

It might not always be possible to prevent bladder stones from forming, but you can lower your risk by:

• drinking plenty of water – this can help dilute the minerals in your pee so they’re less likely to clump together and form bladder stones

• eating a healthy, balanced diet

If left untreated, or if bladder stones don’t pass, complications can happen, such as:

• chronic bladder problems – this includes long-term pain when peeing or needing to pee more often. Bladder stones can also get stuck in the opening where your pee leaves your bladder, and block the flow of urine

• recurrent UTIs – bacterial infections that can keep coming back

Most bladder stones are easy to remove. Treatment options include:

• cystolitholapaxy – a minimally invasive procedure, where a specialist inserts a cystoscope into your bladder, through your urethra, to find the bladder stone. They then use a laser or ultrasound wave to break the stone into smaller pieces, before washing it out of your bladder with fluids

• surgery – if your bladder stone is large, open surgery may be needed under anaesthetic. A specialist will use a scalpel to make a small cut in your abdomen and take out the bladder stone

At Welbeck, our urologists are experts in their field and are dedicated to providing world-class care to every patient.

With access to colleagues across other specialties, our consultants are also able to refer within the Welbeck ecosystem if required to ensure you receive the treatment you need as quickly as possible, all under one roof.  

All appointments, testing, treatment, and follow-up appointments take place within our state-of-the-art facilities, enabling us to deliver accurate diagnostics and advanced treatments.

Your health is important to us, so we strive to offer same-day appointments whenever possible.

Our consultants are recognised by the major health insurance companies. If you have private health insurance, your treatment at Welbeck can begin once you have obtained authorisation. We also provide care to self-paying patients. Learn more about the different payment options at Welbeck.

Get in touch today to book an appointment.