Thursday 8 March is World Kidney Day. It’s also International Women’s Day, providing us with the opportunity to present some facts about women’s experiences of kidney problems.

D4D have an interest in urinary tract infection (UTI) diagnosis – you can read our case study here. But did you also know that women are more prone to kidney infections?

According to the National Kidney Foundation, UTIs lead to nearly 10 million healthcare visits each year and, if not treated early, can cause a worse type of infection, called pyelonephritis. UTIs and kidney infections are more common in women and the risk increases in pregnancy.

You can read the full article here.

Women with chronic kidney disease face a range of healthcare challenges associated with menstruation, sexual function, bone disease, depression, and pregnancy complications.

  • Did you know that women with CKD enter menopause 3-5 years earlier than women without CKD, and that hormone treatment for this can increase the risk of heart disease and blood clotting disorders?
  • It is uncommon for women with less than 20% of normal kidney function to become pregnant; ovulation is affected, and miscarriage is a common outcome for women on dialysis who become pregnant, though women who have more than 24hrs per week of dialysis, and who are effectively managed and treated, are much more likely to successfully carry a pregnancy.

Read more about the effects of CKD on women, here.

For more information about the symptoms of different kidney problems, visit the NHS choices website, here.