Bladder StonesSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Bladder Stones Overview
Learn About Bladder Stones
Bladder stones are hard buildups of minerals. These form in the urinary bladder.
Stones - bladder; Urinary tract stones; Bladder calculi
Bladder stones are most often caused by another urinary system problem, such as:
- Bladder diverticulum
- Blockage at the base of the bladder
- Benign enlargement of the prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH)
- Neurogenic bladder
- Urinary tract infection (UTI)
- Incomplete emptying of the bladder
- Foreign objects in the bladder
Almost all bladder stones occur in men. Bladder stones are much less common than kidney stones.
Bladder stones may occur when urine in the bladder is concentrated. Materials in the urine form crystals. These may also result from foreign objects in the bladder.
Symptoms occur when the stone irritates the lining of the bladder. The stones may also block the flow of urine from the bladder.
Symptoms can include:
- Abdominal pain, pressure
- Abnormally colored or dark-colored urine
- Blood in the urine
- Difficulty urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Inability to urinate except in certain positions
- Interruption of the urine stream
- Pain, discomfort in the penis
- Signs of UTI (such as fever, pain when urinating, and need to urinate often)
Loss of urine control may also occur with bladder stones.
You may be able to help small stones pass on their own. Drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water or more per day will increase urination.
Your doctor (urologist) may remove stones that do not pass using a cystoscope. A small telescope will be passed through the urethra into the bladder. A laser or other device will be used to break up the stones and the pieces will be removed. Some stones may need to be removed using open surgery.
Medicines are rarely used to dissolve the stones.
Causes of bladder stones should be treated. Most often, bladder stones are seen with BPH or blockage at the base of the bladder. You may need surgery to remove the inside part of the prostate or to repair the bladder.
Amy Krambeck is a Urologist practicing medicine in Chicago, Illinois. She has been practicing medicine for over 24 years. Dr. Krambeck is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bladder Stones. She is also highly rated in 22 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Enlarged Prostate (BPH), Kidney Stones, Bladder Stones, Ureteroscopy, and Lithotripsy. Dr. Krambeck is board certified in American Board Of Urology - Urology (Certified).
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David Ginsberg is a Urologist practicing medicine in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Ginsberg is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bladder Stones. He is also highly rated in 19 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Neurogenic Bladder, Urinary Incontinence, Stress Urinary Incontinence, Reconstructive Urology Surgery, and Bladder Reconstruction.
Urology Associates Of Kingsport
Jim Littlejohn is a Urologist practicing medicine in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Littlejohn is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bladder Stones. He is also highly rated in 38 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Peyronie Disease, Kidney Stones, Boils, Urinary Tract Infection in Children, and Ureteroscopy. Dr. Littlejohn is board certified in American Board Of Urology.
Most bladder stones pass on their own or can be removed. They do not cause permanent damage to the bladder. They may come back if the cause is not corrected.
Left untreated, stones may cause repeated UTIs. This can also cause permanent damage to the bladder or kidneys.
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of bladder stones.
Prompt treatment of a UTI or other urinary tract conditions may help prevent bladder stones.
Summary: Bladder stones larger than 2 cm are commonly treated by endoscopic fragmentation through the urethra. During transurethral cystolithotripsy for large stones, the procedure may be prolonged because of poor visibility, stone dust, bladder overdistension, and repeated need for irrigation or evacuation. This randomized controlled trial will compare standal Holmium:YAG laser cystolithotripsy using a 17...
Summary: Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) has a huge socioeconomic impact.Presently, a ''scientific dead-end'' regarding effective treatment of CP/CPPS is reported. Promising results of clinical studies, regardless their limitations, upon efficacy of phytotherapy for CP/CPPS patients have been published .Phytotherapy is cost effective and avoids the systemic side effects of other ...
Published Date: April 19, 2026
Published By: Kelly L. Stratton, MD, FACS, Associate Professor, Department of Urology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Desai MR, Ganpule AP. Lower urinary tract calculi. In: Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, et al, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 100.
Germann CA. Urologic disorders. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 85.