As the silent heroes of our body, our kidneys stay in the shadows, filtering waste, balancing fluids, and regulating blood pressure to keep us healthy. Because of this, kidney problems often fail to show early symptoms, and many people remain unaware until serious damage occurs. A crucial factor to understand is that kidney health differs between women and men, shaped by biology, hormones, and lifestyle habits.
How biology makes a difference
Although the kidneys are the same organs in both sexes, their function and disease patterns differ between men and women.
In women, hormones such as estrogen may exert a protective effect on kidney function. In contrast, testosterone in men increases the activity of the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), which can raise the risk of protein leakage in the urine.
Women are at higher risk of kidney damage during pregnancy, especially if they are suffering from conditions such as preeclampsia, hypertension, and gestational diabetes. Women with conditions like proteinuria or chronic kidney disease (CKD) face a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, including fetal death and intrauterine growth restriction.
Women are also more prone to urinary tract infections (UTIs) because of the anatomical proximity of the urethra to the anal canal. Chronic infections tend to increase the risk of long-term kidney damage in women, whereas in men, these tend to progress faster, and they often reach end-stage kidney disease (CKD stage 5) earlier than women.
Lifestyle factors that matter
Lifestyle habits play a major role in kidney health and often differ between men and women.
Men are more likely to smoke, drink too much, put off regular health check-ups, and ignore early warning signs. This raises their long-term risk of kidney disease.
Women, on the other hand, often put their family's health ahead of their own. They might get used to always being tired or in pain and only go to the doctor when their symptoms start to get in the way of everyday life. The patterns may be different, but the result is usually the same: a late diagnosis and missed chances for early treatment.
In rural India, many women are malnourished and anaemic. When such women go through pregnancy, they have a higher risk of pregnancy-related kidney failure.
Access to treatment and transplant
In the treatment of kidney failure, transplantation is one of the best options. However, women are more likely to be kidney donors, while men receive a higher number of transplants. Women are also less likely to start dialysis early.
Dialysis-related complications are more common in women, often due to vascular access problems and low blood pressure during dialysis sessions.
Role of chronic conditions
Chronic conditions are very important for the health of the kidneys. Some common causes, such as having diabetes and high blood pressure, are also reasons for men and women having kidney disease. However, these diseases can appear and progress in different ways.
Women may exhibit minimal or borderline abnormalities in initial tests, potentially delaying diagnosis. Men, on the other hand, often lose kidney function faster once the disease starts. This makes early monitoring and aggressive treatment even more important.
Some kidney problems affect women more, including lupus nephritis. Men are more likely to develop IgA nephropathy, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), and hypertension, which makes them more susceptible to kidney problems associated with these conditions.
Why early screening is important
Early screening can help protect your kidneys from problems by:
*Monitors blood pressure
*Urine test for protein or albumin
*Blood test to check kidney function
Early screening can help avoid complications like dialysis or kidney failure.
Final Thought
There is no single approach to maintaining healthy kidneys. Men and women have different risk factors and symptoms, but both should be aware of them and seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Listening to your body, making sure you get regular check-ups, and getting medical help when you need it can help keep these quiet organs safe and make sure you have healthier years to come.
This article is authored by Dr Mitesh Makwana, Consultant - Nephrology, Manipal Hospital, Sarjapur.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of THE WEEK.