share: My Liver Disease Story & the Birth Control Pill
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.
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Add a Comment23 Comments
It sounds like you have been through a lot. We appreciate you taking the time to share your story here so other women can learn from your experience.
For those who want to learn more about the birth control pills and their side effects,
Brown University has a great fact sheet with information from Planned Parenthood about birth control pills that addresses liver issues.
The The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also offers some information.
Diamondbella, you mentioned that you needed to change your lifestyle ... Can you chat more about what changes you've made?
May 23, 2008 - 9:51amThis Comment
Hi there,
For the last couple of days I have suspected that my blood tests revealing that I have a "Sensitive Liver" are due to my being on the contriceptive pill from the age of 16. I am now 27 years old. I suffer with terrible nausea all the time. I will be coming off the pill in a few days because I do not want my Liver to suffer anymore then it already has.
I am so sorry for your condition and I just wish that Doctors Prescribing the Pill would warn young girls of the long term side effects (even if they are rare).
Thank you for this post, it has just onfirmed for me what I have been suspecting.
Regards
August 13, 2009 - 4:06pmI unfortunately have run into a similar problem. I was admitted to the hospital for a week and a half from the damages cause internally. I also have liver disease due to the combination of not eating as healthy as I should birth control and alcohol. I do not know if I have fully advanced to cirrhosis but it is a possibility I am only 23 years old now and I too was on the same pill since I was 16 for the same reason. So I too understand the danger I am in now for the rest of my life and may possibly need a transplant unless the disease has regressed since the medications I now take and the birth control I do not take. I would like to seconds that warning and inform women to be very cautious.
August 20, 2009 - 9:01pmTry looking into Andreas Moritz's book "The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse". I just ordered it because I developed high blood pressure on birth control. Hypertension has been related to the liver. I'm going to try it and maybe you all should too ;-)
September 2, 2009 - 11:01amHi,
I just wanted to know which pill you were using...? Since a year ... I'm having problem with my liver. When I'm starting my new pact of pills it hurts for a day... So, today I went to change my pill. I had cyclen and now Yaz. I was on cyclen since the age of 17 and I'm now, 23 years old. I'm a bit worry about that right now and afraid to either continue or consult a doctor about my liver. I know i'm really sensitive with fast food and alcool and it's why i'm careful with what I eat. I thank you for sharing your story !
October 19, 2009 - 8:08amHi,
October 20, 2009 - 7:57pmI know it's not about the pill but about hormone based birth control.
Last year I started taking Nuvaring and maybe a week after first use I started to get sick all the time and my legs started itching really bad. I didnt really think that the Nuvaring could cause it. I went to the doctor and they ran a couple bloodtests and a Liverfunction test on me. My Liver was inflammed and the test was so bad that my doctor didn't know what to do anymore. I can't remember which of them was so bad but the normal is 40-60 and mine was 1200. I lost about 10 lbs within 2 weeks and nobody could explain what could cause that. They checked for Hepatitis (a,b and c) a couple of times but everything came back negative. I had to go to the hospital every second day to get my blood checked. My friend recommended to remove the Nuvaring and my liver went back to normal within a week. When I had my next cycle I had like bloodclots coming out, so bad that I could actually feel it. I was never so scared in my life! I wish you all the best and I hope everything will get better!
Hi, Anon,
Your story is startling and I want to thank you so much for writing it here. I cannot imagine how scared and sick you were, especially when your doctor couldn't figure out what was going on.
Had you taken birth control pills in the past, or was the NuvaRing your first experience with hormonal birth control?
Did you consider contacting the company and telling them your experience?
I'm so glad you're better now. And I'm sure you've thanked the friend a thousand times, but thank her or him again for us, OK?
October 22, 2009 - 8:18amI 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 - 6:52pmHi Anon - We're glad this information was helpful for you. Can you let us know the outcome of your CT scan and how you're doing? We wish you all the best. Pat
January 7, 2010 - 6:23pmI 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 - 6:48am