Oral Contraceptives Such As YAZ, Yasmin, And Ocella Found To Increase The Risk For Gallbladder Disease

Medical Studies Conclude That Hormonal Contraceptives, Especially Birth Control Pills, Raise The Risk For Gallbladder Disease And Injury

Generally, when estrogen is metabolized by the liver, it produces by-products which are dangerous to the gallbladder. These by-products come in the form of cholesterol. Estrogen raises the cholesterol content of bile, which is produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. As cholesterol is the main constituent of gallstones, the excess of cholesterol that the estrogen leaves behind can quickly form into painful gallstones.

Medical studies have shown that women using any hormonal contraceptive are at an increased risk for gallbladder disease, but the type of hormonal contraceptive may raise that risk more. 

Here are a couple of theories about why women using YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella might develop a gallbladder disease that, in some instances, could result in the need for a gallbladder removal surgery, or cholecystectomy.

First, although estrogen is the main culprit of contraceptive-related gallbladder injuries, dehydration of the body serves to further increase the risk that a woman may experience gallbladder problems. Without adequate water in the body, movement of the gallbladder is stifled, called gallbladder stasis. This can lead to sludge, stone formation and, ultimately, gallbladder disease.  The progestin DRSP, found in YAZ, Yasmin, and Ocella, is a diuretic, meaning it rids the body of water. This consequence, combined with the effects of estrogen, raises the risk that women using YAZ, Yasmin, or Ocella will have complications with their gallbladder, including surgery to remove the gallbladder.

Second, oral contraceptives, or birth control pills, appear to have a much larger effect on the gallbladder than hormonal contraceptives that take different forms, such as the intra-vaginal NuvaRing and the transdermal Ortho Evra. Because birth control pills travel through the digestive track, they come into intimate contact with the liver, bile, and gallbladder.

In fact, a medical journal article published in 2005 by the Journal of the American Medical Association, “Effect of Estrogen Therapy on Gallbladder Disease”, cautions that the increased risk for gallbladder injuries should be addressed in the decision-making process for women considering the use of hormonal contraceptives and, especially, oral contraceptives.

For a very good resource on gallbladder removal surgery, including what to expect and recovery details, see Cholecystectomy: Surgical Removal of the Gallbladder, prepared by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), Division of Education.

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