Can endometriosis cause kidney problems?

Yes—endometriosis can affect the kidneys indirectly when it involves the ureters (the tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the bladder). Deep endometriosis can grow on or around a ureter and cause narrowing or blockage, which can lead to urine backing up into the kidney (hydronephrosis). Over time, that pressure can threaten kidney function.

What makes this especially tricky is that ureter involvement can be “silent”—some people have minimal urinary symptoms, or symptoms that don’t feel like a kidney issue at all, until imaging shows swelling of a kidney. When urinary symptoms do happen, they may look more like bladder irritation (burning, pressure, painful urination) that worsens cyclically rather than obvious signs like visible blood in the urine.

If you have known or suspected deep endometriosis, new urinary symptoms, recurrent “UTI” complaints with negative cultures, flank/back pain, or imaging that mentions hydronephrosis, our team takes that seriously and evaluates the full urinary tract—not just the pelvis. We can help map where disease may be affecting the bladder and ureters and discuss what treatment can look like, including minimally invasive excision when appropriate—reach out to schedule a consultation.