Why do kidney stones form?
The simple answer is that they form when there are more minerals and chemicals in the urine than the urine can reasonably dissolve. The most common contributing factor is not having enough fluid in your system. Another common cause is having high levels of several different chemicals that seem to promote stones. These include calcium, uric acid and oxalate.
Is the tendency to develop kidney stones inherited?
There is a strong tendency for related family members to get stones. For example, if one brother had a stone, there's a 50-50 chance the other one will. If one parent had a stone, there is roughly a 25 percent chance that a male offspring will, compared to about 12 percent chance that someone in the general population will form a stone.
Why is the condition more common in men than women?
We're not absolutely sure. The most likely answer has to do with what we eat and average general size. Since the typical man is substantially larger than the typical woman, the amount of waste product that men excrete is also somewhat higher. Meanwhile, the urinary system in men and women is roughly the same size.
Another explanation has to do with diet. Men tend to be more meat-and-potatoes, while women tend to eat more vegetables. Meat protein may increase risk of stone formation.