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Can Large Kidney Stones Pass Through The Female Urethra?
Question: Hi, my name is XXXXXXX I am a 60-year-old female with a history of kidney stones. I passed a stone this morning, very painful, and even managed to save it! I was wondering about the average diameter of the female urethra. I was trying to measure the size of the stone, but none of the rulers I have mark mm, only fractions of inches. Using that measurement, it's about 1/16". The reason I'm curious is, if I pass any more stones, what's the largest I can pass without intervention?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
The average diameter of the female urethra is 6mm. But the urethra is not the rate limiting step in passing a kidney stone (although it is the last part). In fact the pain is mostly from the ureter (the tube that connects the kidneys with the bladder) or distention of the outside (capsule) of the kidney, rather than from limitations of the urethra.
Stones that are 4-6 mm have a 50% likelihood of passing on their own without requiring intervention. Larger than 6 mm almost always require intervention. Your stone was about 1.6 mm - at least after passing that is the size. Stones that are 2 mm or smaller require intervention to pass only 3% of the time. In other words, most that are this size pass spontaneously.
I strongly recommend that you save the stone in a small jar or bag and bring it to your doctor's office for him/her to send to the lab for analysis. The make-up of the stone will give important information regarding possible ways to prevent future stones.
I'm including a link to information you may find helpful. It won't "link" when you click on it, so to see it, please copy and paste it into your search bar.
http://www.auanet.org/education/auauniversity/medical-student-education/medical-student-curriculum/kidney-stones
I'm glad you passed the stone and are feeling better!
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
The average diameter of the female urethra is 6mm. But the urethra is not the rate limiting step in passing a kidney stone (although it is the last part). In fact the pain is mostly from the ureter (the tube that connects the kidneys with the bladder) or distention of the outside (capsule) of the kidney, rather than from limitations of the urethra.
Stones that are 4-6 mm have a 50% likelihood of passing on their own without requiring intervention. Larger than 6 mm almost always require intervention. Your stone was about 1.6 mm - at least after passing that is the size. Stones that are 2 mm or smaller require intervention to pass only 3% of the time. In other words, most that are this size pass spontaneously.
I strongly recommend that you save the stone in a small jar or bag and bring it to your doctor's office for him/her to send to the lab for analysis. The make-up of the stone will give important information regarding possible ways to prevent future stones.
I'm including a link to information you may find helpful. It won't "link" when you click on it, so to see it, please copy and paste it into your search bar.
http://www.auanet.org/education/auauniversity/medical-student-education/medical-student-curriculum/kidney-stones
I'm glad you passed the stone and are feeling better!
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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