I was in a car accident and suffer from herniated disks and arthritis of my spine. As life changing enough as that is when I received the report from my CT Scan they had other news to tell me as well. I have a liver disease. When the doctor explained how serious this could be and that I need to go to a specialist for further examination because I'm too young (22 years old) for this type of problem I became overwhelmed by emotion, but needed to find out all I could on my condition. I looked up everything I could on the disease and came to find that it's most common in over weight people and people who drink excessively. My argument was I know I’m not in the best shape, but I know plenty of people who are far worse about taking care of their health than I am that don’t have this problem; and as I do enjoy having a social drink I don’t drink that often. Little did I know after further research one of the leading contributors to my condition was the birth control pill that I had been taking since I was 16 years old. I had always had a terrible menstrual cycle. My flow was always very heavy and my cramps were so intense that at least once a month it was guaranteed that I would be in bed clenched up in the fetal position wishing the pain away. To help with my unbearable period my doctor had prescribed that I go on the pill to lessen the severity of my monthly visitor, so I did. It worked wonderfully! The pain was not nearly as bad as before and the flow of the blood lightened immensely as well as giving me shorter monthly periods. Unfortunately for me later on this would give me more problems with my health than I could have ever imagined. Sure enough when I read the small print on the inserted leaflet of my birth control prescription it does say that problems of the liver may occur. There is not a cure for the liver disease that I have, but am told that if I change my lifestyle I can stop it from progressing into cirrhosis of the liver which is ultimately what most people die from when they have liver problems. I am taking all necessary precautions at this time to keep the condition from getting worse, and wanted to share my story with all of you so that every woman is aware of all of the possible risks.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment52 Comments
I can relate with you. Most of my fathers family had their gallbladder out also. Im only 31 and need mine out already, most likely due to my birth control. I wish you luck!
September 4, 2011 - 8:02amThis Comment
I too have been taking birth control pills since I was 16- I am now 28. Two years ago my liver function blood test, which I took just for the hell of it, and paid out of pocket for came back slightly abnormal. I redid the blood tests today, again on my initiative and out of pocket, and the results are bad. I am in Europe and all of a sudden the doctors and pharmacists are telling me that here they recommend a break from BCPs every year, at least. I was prescribed a diet and medication to help the liver heal- why do doctors in the US not emphasize this? I eat a healthy diet ( vegetarian ) , I do not drink- the only thing that can be the problem is the birth control. Apparently in Europe they test your liver regularly if you are on the pill- 12 years and not one blood test in the states. Something is wrong here. (BTW I am getting my PhD so its not like I do not do my research, especially about medication that I am taking.) Thanks for writing this.
July 21, 2011 - 4:41pmThis Comment
Curious to see how your liver function test results are now since you've been off bcp's. I've only been off for 2 months and theres no no change
December 1, 2011 - 8:20amThis Comment
Just curious, what kind of diet/medication are you on?
July 21, 2011 - 4:44pmThis Comment
I started taking hormonal BC (Ortho Tri-cylcen, I think) 10 years ago. After 2 weeks on the pill, I became jaundiced, very nauseated, and extremely itchy and fatigued. Blood tests revealed liver function problems that were way off the charts (1200-1600). A biopsy revealed some scarring on the liver and I have been dealing with liver function issues (not to mention anxiety) for the past 10 years, all because of 2 weeks taking those pills. Please, please ladies, think about what you're doing before you start any medication and I would also urge you to be aware of what symptoms mean trouble.
July 11, 2011 - 1:41pmThis Comment
Unfortunately, I also found this site while searching about liver abnormalities. I went in for a CT scan unrelated to my liver (for some left side rib pain that persisted) and was told that there are questionable spots on my liver that the CT scan showed.
I'm awaiting a MRI and have gone off the pill as I believe this is what caused it. I was in a minor car accident in the past and was not on birth control at the time and there were no signs of liver issues then. I've been on the pill for 6 years (as my periods were always bad) and just went off it after hearing that my Dr. believes that I have liver hemangiomas, but we need the MRI to make sure that's what they are.
I also was a vegetarian for years and ate a lot of soy products so I'm wondering if that combined with using oral contraceptives added to this issue.
I know the package insert for my birth control mentioned that there is a risk for these sort of things, but it says it's rare. It seems other side effects are talked about more than others.
If anyone else has a similar issue please post your story.
February 14, 2011 - 11:40pmThis Comment
I too, indirectly, learned about my abnormal liver caused from my estrogen-based birth control pill. I have been having abdominal pain on my right side and, after many tests, finally identified a malfunctional gall bladder that has to be surgically removed (gall bladder problem may also have been caused from estrogen-based BCP). One test, the CT scan revealed "bizarre" liver structural changes (yes, bizarre was the term used in the radiology report) and fluid retention in my right kidney - which I have to have more tests to diagnose. I had a liver biopsy following the CT scan, revealing cellular structural changes. I have since learned that BCPs are linked liver cancer. Fortunately I do not seem to have cancer yet, but I have to get off BCPs to prevent further progression. I am 40 years old and have been on BCPs since I was 17 - minus a few years off to have a child - so a LONG time!
BTW - if anyone is having gall bladder problems, insist on a HIDAscan - my ultrasound and CT were negative (which is because I did not have gall stones). The HIDAscan showed my gall bladder was functioning at only 8.5% (essentially dead) --- below 35% is considered abnormal. Because it was a functionality problem and not stones, the HIDAscan was the only test to pick up the problem.
January 31, 2011 - 12:07pmThis Comment
I have a liver disease. I have had it since i was born. there is no cure but its so hard to find birth control that i can take because no matter what my doctor suggest it always has made my liver worse. My last visit i went to the doctor and she swore up and down it wouldnt hurt me to take this type of birthcontroll so i did and guess what... full of hormones. i should have researched it before agreeing.
August 18, 2010 - 10:07amThis Comment
I have had a menstruation problem since I was 13 years old. I am 44 years old now, but still experience the terrible periods, and even before they come I start getting the terrible pains and migrains. I can remember when I was 13 years old in class doing english session I quickly got out of my seat and from doing so, I started bleeding very badly that it saturated my pad that I had on, I have used meds when I was 13, but I had to stop using them because I ended up with toxic shock. Well getting back to what I was saying the teacher arranged for me to go home early, I was taken to the first Aid Room so the First Aid Nurse could check me over and, to see if there were no other problems with me. The First Aid Nurse told me to rest here until I was allowed to go home, when she came back I was allowed to go home. When I got home I went straight to bed, the next day my mother rang for the doctor to come to the house, the doctor examined me and he said that I needed to go on the pill to ease the amount of blood that was coming away from me, when my dad heard that I needed the pill he wouldn't allow it. So they gave me something else instead. I ended up with tummy cramps all of the time from using the medicine, when I was 16 I made a trip to the doctors by myself he knew why I was there he wrote out a new presription for the pill and told me to throw away those tablets that were causing the cramps, they weren't any good and infact it made it worse, when I was in the doctors surgery I fainted and that is what prompted the doctor to change it. As I am reaching the age of menapause I still get heavy menstruation the specialist has organised me to have a curet done and have an IUD put in place it works like the pill to slow down the heavy flow, given my weight problem and all the doctors don't want to take that risk becauae I already have liver damage and it would cause cirrhoss of the liver and this is why and given my age. The doctors are going to leave in the IUD for 5 years and by this time I would of gone through menapause.
July 11, 2010 - 6:48amThis Comment
I just had an ultrasound of my abdomain and they saw something on my liver. The doctor said it was most likely from birth control pills and he wasn't worried about it. Well I am! I have a CT scan in a few days and we'll see how it is but I'm scared to keep taking them. After reading your story and you being younger than me. I'm 26. Now I know how serious of a problem they can cause. Thanks!
January 6, 2010 - 6:52pmThis Comment