Which type of kidney stones occur more frequently in women?

Struvite stones are known to occur more frequently in women, primarily due to their association with urinary tract infections (UTIs), particularly those caused by urea-splitting bacteria such as Proteus. These infections can lead to the formation of struvite stones, which are composed of magnesium ammonium phosphate. Women are generally at a higher risk for UTIs due to anatomical factors, such as a shorter urethra, which can lead to increased instances of struvite stone formation. This makes struvite stones more prevalent in the female population compared to their male counterparts.

In contrast, calcium stones, while the most common type overall and can occur in both sexes, do not show a significant gender predominance. Uric acid stones and cystine stones also do not have a frequency that notably skews towards women. Therefore, the distinct association of struvite stones with urinary tract infections provides a clear explanation for their higher occurrence in women.