Ureteral Stones: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment & Prevention (2024)

What is a ureteral stone?

A ureteral (pronounced “yer-ree-ter-uhl”) stone is an irregularly shaped solid mass or crystal that’s become stuck in one of your ureters (pronounced “yer-it-ters”). Your ureters are two tubes of muscle that carry urine (pee) from your kidneys to your bladder. You have one ureter per kidney.

Ureteral stones can appear in your left ureter or your right ureter. In most adults, your ureters are between 10 inches and 12 inches long. Stones may be near the proximal end (near the point of origin) or the distal end (away from the point of origin) of your ureter. The proximal end of your ureter connects to your renal pelvis. There’s a renal pelvis in the center of each of your kidneys, and it collects pee. The distal end of your ureter connects to your bladder.

Ureteral stones are often tiny. Some are too small to see with the naked eye. They pass through your pee and don’t cause any problems.

If a ureteral stone is large enough, it can block the flow of pee from your kidneys to your bladder. This blockage can cause severe pain. Ureteral stones form when minerals and salts build up in your pee. The minerals form crystals that grow into stones.

Are ureteral stones kidney stones?

Yes, ureteral stones are kidney stones. A ureteral stone is a kidney stone that’s become stuck in one of your ureters.

What are the main types of ureteral stones?

There are four main types of ureteral stones, including:

• Calcium stones. Calcium stones are the most common type of ureteral stone. Types of calcium stones include calcium oxalate stones and calcium phosphate stones.
• Uric acid stones. Uric acid stones form when there’s too much uric acid in your pee.
• Struvite stones. Struvite stones sometimes form after you’ve had a urinary tract infection (UTI). Magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and calcium carbon-apatite are the main components of struvite stones.
• Cystine stones. The genetic disorder cystinuria (pronounced “sis-tah-nuhr-ee-ah”) causes cystine stones. Cystinuria causes the amino acid cystine to leak out of your kidneys into your pee.

Who do ureteral stones affect?

Anyone can develop a ureteral stone. However, you’re more likely to get a ureteral stone if you:

• Are a man or were assigned male at birth.
• Are white.
• Are between the ages of 40 and 60.
• Have had ureteral stones before.
• Have a family history of ureteral stones.
• Don’t drink a lot of water.
• Have diabetes.
• Have polycystic kidney disease.

How common are ureteral stones?

Each year in the United States, about 1 in 1,000 adults goes to the hospital for urinary tract stones.

Over your lifetime, you have a 1 in 8 chance of forming a stone.