Since May is Women’s Health Month, we wanted to take a moment to draw attention to gallstones, a condition that affects a lot of women. More than 25 million individuals across the nation experience gallstones, with 65% to 75% being women. Women between the ages of 20 and 60 are three times more likely to get gallstones than men. Let’s discuss why that is and what treatment options are available.
What is a Gallstone?
Gallstones start with bile, a substance that assists in digesting fats and other nutrients. It is produced in the liver and transported to the gallbladder where it is stored. The presence of fat in our diet prompts the gallbladder to undergo contractions and sends the bile to the intestines.
A gallstone is solid crystallized bile. They can be tiny like the tip of a ballpoint pen or much larger. They are composed mostly of cholesterol, and they form when the liquid bile is more substantial than the bile salts can break down. They can also form when the gallbladder doesn’t undergo contractions and release its contents. Problems begin to arise when gallstones block any of the ducts carrying bile to the small intestine.
What Are Common Symptoms of Gallstones?
Most people have no symptoms, also known as “silent” gallstones. When someone does have symptoms, it is usually after a particularly fatty meal.
Symptoms can be any of the following:
- Pain in the upper right abdomen area
- Pain in the right shoulder
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe pain within an hour
If a stone becomes stuck in a duct, it can lead to more serious complications like jaundice, high fever, and chills. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your healthcare provider or Dignity Health Medical Group immediately for next steps.
Exploring the Causes of Gallstones in Women
Women are more at risk due to female hormones. Estrogen elevates cholesterol levels in the bile, while progesterone decelerates the emptying process of the gallbladder.
Estrogen therapy raises the risk, and oral contraceptives elevate the risk in the first ten years of use.
Other factors that increase the risk of gallstones include:
- Obesity (more fat creates more estrogen)
- Prompt weight loss (like after bariatric surgery)
- Diabetes
- Multiple pregnancies
- Family history
- Ethnicity (Native Americans generally secrete high levels of cholesterol in bile)
- Drugs that lower cholesterol
- People over the age of 60
What Are Treatment Options?
There are three possible treatments.
Open cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)
Open cholecystectomy is a procedure where one large incision is used to remove the gallbladder. This option is used in rare cases and requires a longer hospital stay and recovery.
laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Gallbladder Removal)
Cholecystectomies are more commonly performed laparoscopically. This method involves the insertion of a tiny video camera and special tools through several smaller incisions (as opposed to one large incision) to see inside the patient’s abdomen and remove the gallbladder.
Gallstone Dissolving Pills
The third and most recent option available is to dissolve gallstones via a pill. This is preferred if:
- symptoms are mild
- the stones are small
- surgery is too risky.
The medication therapy does take 6 to 12 months for the stones to dissolve.
Contact a general surgeon at Dignity Health Medical Group in Chandler and Gilbert, AZ for tests and treatment if you experience any of the symptoms of gallstones.
