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[Bobidy]

Hi

I've seen some recent posts about hrt and gallstones and was wandering what your experience and knowledge is of this.

Is there any scientific stuff behind it?

Thanks x

[Kathleen]

Hello Bobidy

I do love my science sites but I haven't come across anything linking HRT and gallstones. In fact my thirty seven year old nephew has just had his gallbladder removed due to stones and he is most definitely not menopausal lol. As I understand it a low fat diet is recommended for gallbladder problems but I could be wrong.

I'm sure someone will be along shortly with some insights.

Wishing you well.

K.

[Taz2]

All my HRT patient information leaflets have had gall bladder disease as a side effect of HRT. My GP also mentioned this possible downside of using it long-term.

Taz x

[Bobidy]

Thanks everybody. I'm due an ultrasound next week to check. Apparently dodgy gallbladder can cause the acid reflux symptoms too.

I've found some study info from various sources:

"Most gallstones are composed of cholesterol. Super- saturation of bile with cholesterol, bile stasis and destabi- lization of bile are required for the formation of choles- terol gallstones. Similar mechanisms of cholesterol gall- stone formation may operate in women taking HRT. Estrogens increase cholesterol saturation of bile, alter bile acid composition (by lowering the chenodeoxycholate pool and by increasing the cholic acid pool) and decrease bile flow [10]. Addition of progestins in HRT may con- tribute to gallstone formation by causing gallbladder and intestinal hypomotility.

They found that compared to women who had never taken HRT, all women using HRT had an increased risk of developing gallbladder disease. Importantly, they also found that women taking the HRT in a patch or gel form were substantially less likely to be admitted to hospital for gallbladder disease and less likely to have their gallbladder removed than the women taking HRT in the form of tablets.

Simon adds that it makes sense why estrogen would have this effect, since this hormone changes the makeup of bile in the gallbladder so gallstones are more likely to form.

Conclusion Gallbladder disease is common in postmenopausal women and use of hormone replacement therapy increases the risk. Use of transdermal therapy rather than oral therapy over a five year period could avoid one cholecystectomy in every 140 users.

Furthermore, use of both equine oestrogen and estradiol at higher doses were associated with greater risks than lower doses"

[Sgtvhilts]

OMG- I am the self styled GB expert 😂LOL
I am always talking about my experiences on here.....
Anyway- About 5 yrs ago now I start getting this abdo pain. Wind, constipation, acidly. Duly saw GP. 4 yr diagnosis of ‘Gastritis and IBS ‘ okay - duly swallowed Omeprazole helped a bit, but never really went away.
So April ‘18 went on HRT, within a month, pain worse than ever and started vomiting bile.  Back to GP- still saying Gastritis. I asked for a scan. He says no way is it gallstones, but sent me for a scan probably to humour me.....
Low and behold, scan showed not just a gritty one, but a huge bag of marbles......
Had it out in feb this year and all symptoms stopped overnight. Nothing at all since.
Surgeon said it was rancid big stones with one completely blocking the duct, hence why the acid and constipation- no bile at all. Must have moved to puke it up though.
I asked the surgeon if HRT had caused it. His response was , no , that had been years and years (20+) in the making. The HRT just might have brought it to a head, but no way caused it.
That's my much told story.
If in doubt , get it out.
As for diet, well turns out low fat is about as useful as a chocolate fire guard. It is all genetic. Apparently.
I ate low fat for about a week, made no difference, in fact I felt worse. I never , ever eat low fat, it is drenched in sugar.
Bobidy, you are right that stones are made of cholesterol (which is made in the liver)- the amount you make is now thought to be also genetic. Funny that.

[Bobidy]

Thanks, yes it runs in the family unfortunately! X

[dahliagirl]

Yes, it runs in my family too.  One was told that genetics was the biggest factor and there was nothing he could have done.