Containing Oxalate Other Resources Overview Kidney stones, one of the most painful of the urologic disorders, are not a product of modern life. An estimated 10 percent of people in the United States will have a kidney stone at some point in their lives. Men tend to be affected more frequently than women.
Most kidney stones pass out of the body without any intervention by a physician.
Stones that cause lasting symptoms or other complications may be treated by various techniques, most of which do not involve major surgery. Also, research advances have led to a better understanding of the many factors that promote stone formation. The Urinary Tract. The urinary tract, or system, consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located below the ribs toward the middle of the back.