Women's Health Month: Protecting Kidney Health at Every Stage of Life

May is Women's Health Month — a time to recognize the unique health challenges women face and the importance of early action and prevention. Kidney health is an essential part of that conversation.

Women are at increased risk for several kidney-related conditions. Studies show that women are more likely than men to develop chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conditions such as pregnancy-related complications (like preeclampsia), autoimmune diseases, and urinary tract infections can all impact kidney health over a woman's lifetime.

One of the most serious kidney risks for women is lupus — an autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects women and can cause serious kidney complications. Nine out of ten people diagnosed with lupus are women, most often between the ages of 15 and 44.

When lupus causes inflammation in the kidneys, it's called lupus nephritis. If left untreated, lupus nephritis can lead to permanent kidney damage and kidney failure.

In addition, symptoms like swelling in the hands, feet, or face, blood in the urine, or high blood pressure can be early warning signs that the kidneys are being affected. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can slow or even prevent serious kidney damage.

This Women's Health Month, we encourage women to know the signs, talk to their healthcare providers, and prioritize regular checkups — because protecting kidney health protects overall health.